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Hi 


10 


I.I 


:^    li£    12.0 


2.5 


L25  i  1.4 


1.8 


1.6 


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Sciences 
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A 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  fcr  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notas/Notas  tachniquaa  at  bibliographiquaa 


Tha  instituta  has  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographicaliy  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  imagea  in  tha 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagie 


□    Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  resuurte  et/ou  pellicula 


r~~|    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

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Coloured  ink  li.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noirs) 

Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  an  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli^  avec  d'autras  documents 


D 


n 


n 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liura  serrie  peut  causer  de  I'ornbre  ou  de  la 
distorsion  la  long  de  la  m^rge  int6rleure 

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appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouties 
iors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais.  lorsque  cela  itait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  M  filmies. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplAmantaires: 


L'institut  a  microfilm*  le  meilleur  exempiaire 
qu'il  lui  a  iti  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  d^taiis 
de  cet  exempiaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite.  ou  qui  pjuvent  exiger  una 
modification  dans  la  m^thoda  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu^s  ci-dessous. 


r~~]    Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagies 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pelliculies 

Pag98  discoloured,  stained  or  foxei 
Pages  ddcolor^es,  tachaties  ou  piquies 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ditachies 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quality  inigaie  de  {'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
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Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Mition  disponibSe 


f~n   Pages  damaged/ 

I      j    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

Fyl    Pag98  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

I      I    Pages  detached/ 

1^    Showthrough/ 

ry]    Quality  of  print  varies/ 

|~~j    Includes  supplementary  material/ 

|~n    Only  edition  available/ 


D 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partieilement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata.  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  M  filmies  d  nouveau  de  fapon  d 
obtenir  la  meiileure  image  possible. 


This  item  Is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 
Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqud  ci-dessous. 
10X  14X  1&X  22X 


26X 


30X 


/ 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


G 

32X 


The  copy  filmed  hare  has  bean  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Dougias  Library 
Queen's  University 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  Impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  Impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — »-  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

IVIaps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  ^'o  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


L'exemplaira  film*  fut  reproduit  grAce  h  la 
g*n«roslt«  de: 

Douglas  Library 
Queen's  University 

Les  images  suivantes  ont  «t6  reproduites  avec  ie 
plus  grand  soln,  compte  tnnu  de  la  condition  at 
de  la  nettetA  de  l'exemplaira  f  ilm«,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
fllmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  ImprimAe  sont  filmis  en  commenpant 
par  Ie  premier  p>at  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illuatration,  soit  par  Ie  second 
plat,  salon  la  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  rilmte  en  commenpant  par  la 
premiAre  page  qui  comporte  uno  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  dee  symbols^  suivants  apparaTtra  sur  la 
derniAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  Ie 
cai:  Je  symbols  — ^  signifie  "A  SUEVRE".  !s 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  6tre 
filmfo  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffArents. 
Lorsque  Ie  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA,  II  est  film6  d  partir 
de  \\i?ig\B  supArieur  gauchs,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  Ie  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammec  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


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HISTOHlCiL  8KET<^E8 

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raiTED  STATES  AND  GREAT  BBlTAINj 

BLENDP)  WITH  ANECDOTES 

IlhistraHve  of  thu  Individual  Bramm  «/» it.«   a 

trmhofthe  most  ^^'^tinguished  Naval  A^MuLv 
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BY  JOHN  LEWIS  THOMSON. 


PV^LTSHED  BY  THOMAS  mSILVEH. 

ALSO   BY 

vaiuial),  (Geo )  j.  Cottom.  Richmond.  (Va.) 
J^OHN  BiOREN,  PRlNTfiB. 

1816. 


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DUbict  o/Ptmuyivania,  lo  wU: 


>^l>'.etor,i„,to^rj,^;|^^';,y'fJt^jl.ereofhe  .Wnu  „ 
" "'^^'':'Jt£^^t^'''t:^«]r'^'''> .he  U„U.d 

;  Sailor.,  s„idi.«;Zd  ""S ,  ~'t'^,^K''!f.  ;*T""» 

intUuMf'.''i?^Vfo:  fii'if  "■«  ""««"  "f 'he  United  Sute. 

And  also  to  ihe  Ml,  entitled  ™ An  '!^     i"""  ""entionf  d." 
entitled,  "An  «ct  fm.  th.        ■*"  "' ""PP'emenUry  to  an  »« 
curing  the  c^i^of^^J^^SAranTBool'T^S-  ""  - 

..^^i"..  engrawng.  -d^?.'hi^„^"SS^:a'"ot'.;e\;S'„.°';.<'«- 

D.  CALDWELL,  Clerk 

of  the  Dktrict  of  Penmylvanii, 


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HON.  J4MES*M0N110B, 

Secretary  of  Slate^  *  "'" 

OF   THE 

UNITED  STATES, 

Whose  indefatigable  efTorts,  as  well  on  an  Embasy  to  the 
Court  of  St.  James,  as  in  the 
DEPARTMENT  OP  STATE, 
to  negotiate  an  honorable  adjustment  of  those  diffcrcnceg 
which  resulted  in  the  late  contest  with 
GREAT  BRITAIN, 
and 
who  presided  with  distinguished  ability,  in  thk 
DEPARTMENT  OF  WdR, 
at  the  period 
most  memorable  for  the  achievements 
of  the 
AMERICAN  ARMS; 
This  work  is  respectfully  Dedicated, 

by 

THE  AUTHOR. 

Philadelphia,  July  ii,f  IB16, 


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PiKEFACE. 

WHEN  proposals  were  issued  for  tm  pub . 
lication  of  tliis  work,  some  time  after  the  ratifica- 
tion of  the  treaty  of  peace  with  Great  Britain,  its 
contemplated  plan  embraced  nothing  more  than 
the  compilation  of  hasty  sketches  of  the  leading 
events  of  the  war,  arranged  in  clironological  or- 
der, and  with  a  proper  regard  to  tlie  preservation 
of  the  principal  features,  and  the  general  charac- 
ters of  the  land,  and  naval  engagements.     Tlie 
author  was  not  long  in  discovering  that  infinite 
pains  and  excessive  labour  were  necessary,  to  the 
collection  of  materials,  from  which  these  sketches^ 
however  concise,  might  be  made  with  that  fide- 
Iity  which  such  subjects  require. 

His  resources  at  that  period,,  thougli  stamped 
with  the  character  of  authenticity,  were  extremely 
limited,  and  he  found  it  necessary  to  intimate  his 
intentions  to  officers  of  the  army  and  navy,  who 
had  been  engaged  in  many  of  the  events  which 
It  was  his  design  to  perpetuate,  and  upon  the 
truth  ot  whose  statements  he  could  implicitly 
rely.   These  intimations  were  followed,,  by  manv 
assurances  of  assistance  from  gentlemea  of  aU 
ranks  in  the  service,  and  by  promises  of  full,  and 
accurate,  accounts  of  the  operations  of  the  fleets 
and  armies.     From  such  fruitful  and  authentic 
sources  the  author  could  not  fail  to  elicit  the  best, 
possible  information,  and  though  he  did  not  im. 
mediately  contemplate  an  extension  of  the  limits 
of  the  work,  he  determined  to  put  it  more  in  the 
iormt  of  a  flimiliar  and  connected  narrative,  than 
Blight  have  been  expected  from  its  title,  without 
assuming,  however,  the  style  of  a  history » 


I 


••.t 


(    vi 

The  length  and  number  of  the  journals  and 
Statements  transmuted  to  him,  not  only  tended 
to  increase  his  labours,  but  produced  much  more 
delay  m  the  completion  of  the  work,  and  prolonff. 
cd  the  time  of  its  appearance  !.eyond  the  day  on 

To  the  same  cause  is  to  be  attributed  the  cir- 
cumstance of  its  having  attained  the  three  hun- 
dredth  page,  before  the  account  of  the  last  north- 
crn  campaign  was  fully  detailed,  and  co  that 
circumstance  he  must  refer  his  readers,  for  the 
o^iiciseness  of  the  description  of  the  capture  of 
Washington,  the  attack  upon  Baltimore,  the 
operations  upon  the  whole  southern  coast,  and  of 
tnebrilhant  and  unparalleled  repulse  of  theenemy, 
before  New  Orleans.  Limited  as  these  descrip- 
tions are,  it  became  necessary  to  add  seventy-two 
pages  to  the  number  promised,  and  the  expences 
ot  the  work  have  m  consequence  been  so  much 
increased  that  without  incurring  an  absolute 
Joss,  its  bulk  could  not  possibly  be  any  further 
extended. 

The  author  cannot  conclude  this  preface  with- 
out assuring  his  readers,  that  no  eflfbrtshave  beea 
neglected  to  ascertain  the  principal  facts  connecf- 
Gd  vyith  the  events  of  the  war.  FerseverinP-  as  he 
has  been,  however,  he  fears  that  some  om?ssions 
lave  ueen  made,  or  that  some  mistatemems  may 
have  crept  into  the  work  ,  and  to  these  he  b^/s 
the  mdulgencc  of  those  persons  who  were  con-- 
eerned  m  these  events,  as  the  knowledge  of  such 
tacts,  too  frequently,  elude  the  most  industrious 
^^K^'Tu '  ^'^  '''^  contradictory  accounts,  with 
.vhich  he  has  been  supplied,  have  not  unseldom 
thrown  him  into  perplexing  etpbarrassments. 


INDEX. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Indian  Hostilities,  3— Battle  on  the  Wabash,  4-~Conduct  of  the 
British  Cabinet  and  cruisers,  5— Declaration  of  war  against 
T-?-^'  f'^^'"f  ^-Invasion  of  Canada,  8— Fall  of  Fort  Mi- 
chilim&ckmack,  9— Skirmish  near  Aux  Cannards,  12— M'Ar- 
thur  s  Excursion,  IS-Skirmiah  at  Brownstown,  14~Evacu- 
ation  of  Sandwich,  15-Baitle  of  Maguaga,  IG-Fort  Chi- 
cago,  18— Surrender  of  Detroit,  20. 

CHAPTER  n. 

Disposition  of  the  Naval  Forces,  Sr-Escape  of  the  Consti- 
tution,  27— Letters  ot  Marque  and  Reprisals,  28— Atlas  en- 
gages two  armed  ships,  28--Essex  captures  the  Alert.  29— 
Engagement  between  the  Constitution  and  Guerriere  30— 
Pursuit  of  the  Belvidere,  53-An  Engagement  on  the  St. 
Lawrence,  34--Capture  of  the  British  Brigs  Detroit  and 
Caledonia,  on  Lake  Erie,  35- Wasp  captures  the  Frolic,  37 
-Both  takeii  by  the  Poictiers,  39-Loss  of  the  United  States' 
Schooners  Nautilus  and  Vixen,  40. 

CHAPTER  HI. 

"43-Batu'/of  ?h^'r'f  k"^"""''  ^"-^'^^^  "^^^  I>«vis'  Creek, 
4J— battle  ot  the  Lotchway  town,  44. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

CHAPTER  V. 

British  evacMste  Fori  Defiance,  J4-DeaU.  of  Logan,  54-^ 
Battle  on  the  Mississinewa,  55-Left  wing  of  the  ArmP 
inoves  from  Defiance  to  the-  Rapids,  Sr-Excursion  of  the 
Kentucky  Brigade  into  Indiana,  57.  ^'^^^"^siGn  ot  iFie 


fiii 


INDEX. 
CHAPTER  VI 


i 


60-Bom^ardment  of  Sgd^^^^^  Gananoque. 

Disposition  of  the  Forcfs  on  th?N^.Tr1    61    ??.V''- 1^~ 
o^  Queenstown.  69— .Rntfi*.  «f  r»  *^'"k*'^*>   oI— Description 

DeShof  General  Bm?ril^L&fTh^".  "^•.^'^^«'  ^2- 
68-Cannonade  beTween  F^  Geo^^^^^^^^^^  «>'''^«' 

-An  Affair  below  OgdemburzVlLtLii  ^'^^^'**   ^^ 
Canada.  ri~Bombard^ent  o^f  ort^f^ara  /SlT   '"'?• 

ricans,  they  open  a  fire  on  the  Battery  at  the  Rock,  82? 
CHAPTER  Vn. 

'"'i^e^'^^^J^'^^^  States   ove. 

Naval  Establish^nent  on  LaktZ'JoSs'^cV'  °^  '^,^ 
Squadron  pursues  the  Royal  George  into  Kint.T;?!?""^^  * 
and  Bombards  that  Town.  SS-G^ror/er  cSp,  ^'1°"' 
my's  Sloop,  Sr—Fie-ht  betwe^-n  »h«  i   .   t^e,*^**  ^"  ^"e- 

Charybdis  and  thrfi  vateeTBlckade    sf  TiT^nl  ^^?' 

and  carries  two  Armed  Vessels.  88-Fourth  NavTl  V?f^^' 
the  Constitution  over  the  British  frigate  the  J^afsl^'^' 

CHAPTER  Vni. 

Contemplated  Movement  of  the  British  and  IndJan,  fr^m  ti*  i 
den  to  Frenchtown.  93— Battle  hAt,„L„Vi  *"r?     "°^  "**'* 
Armies,  and  the  DeLt  of  h:  8^1^94'  cf  n?"'' f  .^"^'^ 
eral  Winchester's  Force,  and   Ssacre  ^^  th?T°^^^"- 
95-Siege  of  Fort  Mec-s   109     n?,!fi     .    x?-  *"®   Prisoners, 

CHAPTER  IX. 

'^P.!:?™?.?!  'i"_C.n;p,,g„  of  18.3,  by  ,h.  North  We,«^ 

thp  nritiaU  ito    n  r.    .  *  lI2--Capture  of  OtrdeosburEr  bv 
the  British,  Il3-Batt«rie»  at  Biacfc  Rock,  nJLconceK 


^on  of  For««s  a<  9ackett»8  Harbour,  113— Descriwioft  ©f  the 
lown  and  Harbour  of  Little  York,  Capital  of  Upper  Canada* 
ll^r-Embarkation  of  Genpral  Daarbom's  Army  at  Sackett'a 
Harbour,  114— American  Heet  under  Commodore  Cb«unce« 
saila  thence,  114-Arrive«  at  the  mouth  of  York  harbour, 
114-British  Force  under  General  ShcafFe,  114-It8  Dispo- 
sition, 114— Landing  of  the  American  Advance,  115— Fieht 
in  the  Woods,  116— Landing  of  the  Main  Force,  116-Bri- 
tjsh  retreat  to  their  Garrison,  116-Their  Works  outside 
*    V?*"'  nr— They  abandon  their  Fort,  117— Explosion  of  the 
Magazine,  117-Dewh  of  Genetak  Pike,  118— The  Aroeri- 
cans  enter  the  Garrison,  118-Command  devolves  on  Colonel 
Pearce.  118-General  Sheaffe  withdraws  his  Force*  frc-n 
tneTown,  and  retreats  across  the  Don,   118— His  Rear 
?hTTS'i^°^fi^  Lieutenant  Riddle,  llS-Capituktlon  of 
Ihe  S**  ""S  ^'"'*  °^  ^"^^^  119-The  British  destroy 
ie?fi^io7v*     ,  Tf?  ^^''*'  negotiating  for  terms,  and 
«rL.?w  *  «.^"**  ""^  ^"*  119-American8  leave  York  and 
for  R^inf  "^  Niagara,  123-Fleet  sails  to  Sackett's  Harbour 
OntS^o  Tcf."*  pi! %^^~^"  Expedition  to  the  head  of  Lake 
NewA^k    i^l«T"'"'*    ^24-Its  Disposition  before 
125-F^I^;  «n^^"^^  1P°"  ^"^  Capture  ofFort  George, 
Tifr  ♦  ^p  V**"  ^*^  ^'■»**  128-Captnti  of  Port  Erfe,  r?|!! 
Defeat  of  Generals  Chandl-*-  «..a   Winder,  128— Attack  oft 
f;&."''''"^  '^  Sir  George  Prevost.  134-HU  Re" 

CHAPTER  X. 

General  Dearborh  retires  from  the  command  of  the  North*i^ 
Army,  143-Command  of  Fort  George  devolves  on  r^«lr^ 

of  Sodus,  143-Attempt  to  land  at  Oswego,   144I Affair  a^ 

itTeLfoTth^llS^TV'^^  MiHtia'p;t;t;re'i?^?;oS 

of  an  Enemy's  Gun  Boat,  149-Fort  George  InvesJId   149 

YoTk"?5"o''S!^.-^lf   ''T'^'^l  149-Secfnd  Expeluiot'^ 
^ork,  150— British  capture  the   Growler  and  Eaele   150 

f^-c'^hr?;  "he  R  " -^S  S?^  ^-^'^oyii..  Priva?f'Sou?e;; 
aau— i^nase  of  the  British  Fleet  on  Lake  Onrario  1^1     ir„ 

th?Ev''f.r  S^'"*^^  ^"^^  re.possession  rNefva7k^^; 

Capture  of  k  Br?;;:h"nffl""'*l'  *°  ^'''   IntrenchmentsJ  I53Z 
i^apture  ot  a  British  officer  by  an  American  Sentinel,  153. 

CHAPTER  XI. 

The  Nrti^Ji  xir^ot*—    a  .._^^     ^  _ .     _  .  .  . 
Fort'MeJMV^V^rT'f  "•^*   i^-^Hritish  appear  again  beft>r< 
duskv  1-^f    r    r^*^!."?°"*  ^'*'''  Stephenson,  Lower  San^ 
dusky,  155-Capture  of  the  British  Fleet  on  Like  Ede,  159 


H 


■  fiTDES. 

MaWen/l64— The  Amil.:  Canada,  164-Capture  o^ 

the  British  up  la^lTd  He^tk- '"^^ '^^  lesiSuc 
-Battle  of  the  Thames  1  eel ni;^^'i''""i'^,'"  Chatham,  166 
ral  Pr(,ctor'a  ArmM69lE,trDe  of  JL^"n«  "P*"""^  «^  ««««" 
Of  Tecumseh.  le^-Destrurtfo^n  of  hi  iS*''^'''  168-DeatFi 
-The  Army  saUs  for  anVSalt^iX^'m  J^""'  ''' 

CHAPTER  XII. 

investment  of  Fort  GeorJ.  lyfln^Tf;^^^^^^  the 


"inter  qMS2™?liri;'''j'r/ •'''™'  «8*-Goe.  a|,o  i„,o 
.na  de^„;^^|'J^J^A^e;;.c.ns  e«c„.,e  For.  George 

CHAPTER  Xlll. 

Sloop  of  War  Peacock  ^odI;."^*^'  !"*  Captures  Ihe 

andthesfeopofWaTDomE?201?  ^""''"^o'^  Decatu. 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

^-luack  ntPf"^*7  '^'^^••^'^^  °f  Chesapeake  Bay,  202 
row  Lewistown'-sS  Zir  ^^^^'•'"^^'  203-Af?i;;  be! 
River.  203-The  Gun  I?at^^^^^^  °rf  ^^  T-^^  "«»'  M"''«'is 
gagement  on  the  Delaware  90^^^""  ^J'^.^'^'*  204-En. 
petke  Bay,  205l.Fr!n^^S  f  .f  ^depredations  in  Chesa- 

Grace    90r   «n^     r  ^        *  206--Destruction  of  Havre  de 

Sttrvevor   911     i^*^     V^""^^'"'  °^  **»«  Revenue  Cutter 
•>»>**  veyor,  ^11— Action  betwef>n  th«  n....  d-._^-  -,..'" 

«^   --""-."w^is  anu  mree. 


INDEX. 


id 


FrJgatea.  212-;DefeBce  of  Crancy  Island,  2J3-HaBipton 
asBaulted  and  plundered,  215.  *    " 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Sritish  land  at  Ocracoke  and  Portsmouth,  222— Cantute 
two  Letters  of  xMarque.  222-Di8tribution  of  Admiral  War- 
?•"?•  ^c^**  223-United  States'  schooner  Asp.  223--A 
v!  t^S.^'^^h  ***®  Yankee,  captures  a  British  tender  the 
Etole.  224--The  Frigates  United  SUtes  and  Macedonian, 
and  sloop  Hornet,  blockaded  at  New  London,  225-Mid! 
shipman  Ten.E>ke.  225...British  at  Saybrook,  226~Engage- 
ment  in  Connecticut  Sound,  227-Wareham  and  ScituatI,  228 

SnXT  *'«,''/ ^»'*W'  ^"°«^  ^«^a"d*  229-Attack  ipon 
Stonmgton,  230-British  claim   he  territory  east  of  the  Pe- 

F    r^?  '  f/  ***'*'"P>'  Castine,  232~Los8  of  the  United  States^ 
«    ngate  Adams,  232. 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

^  S*lnS*S^w"'"*'»  r '*'*'*  ^"°  ^''ff  Argus,  captured  by  the 
Sloop  of  War  Pelican,  234~Boxcr  and  Enterprize  237- 
Allen  and  Burrows,   238-Commodore   Rodg?rrand  tS 

fsS    ??nr™*o/^^~r^°"."^'"''°"  ^^^'^^    into^J^rblehead! 
^??r  or   S^"""®   ^^^'"^  240-Cruize  of  the  Essex  Fri 
Itl;  240-Her  capture.  242~United  States*  Sloop  of  War 
IcS  n'fT'^"''  the  British  brig  of  war  EperWer,  24g 
—Cruise  of  the  nevr  Sloop  of  War  Wasn    950— H*.r  o1«. 
quest  over  the  Reindeer,  2Vshe  sink^t^he  Av^^flJa? 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Proposed  plan  of  operations  in  Lower  Canada,  255-The  Ai^ 
my  quit  the  quarters  at  French  Mills,  25^Incur8ion  of  the 

!a  Colle°  ^57^-'  25^-Smugglers,L-6-Movement  against 

aux  Nofx  2^"  r°"''^"TSrT.  °^  '^  ^"t'«*»  F°'-<="  at  Isle 
aux  Notx,  259— General  Wilkinson's  recal,  259— Estahnrh 

ment  of  a  Battery  at  Otter  Creek,  259-BSish  a^Dea   ?t 
9fi^T'\^^^~^7^f^P"'^^'  ^eo-Opprafion   on^&^^^^^^^ 
260-Lveutenant  Dudley,  261-Defence  of  Fort  Oswego  26f 

cSoTte  ¥o^^*^'^"^%<>**'»^  B'-'t.sh  there,  263-Atra^f i^oj 
t-harlotte  Town,  on  Genessee  River.  264— Brit;«h  itnJ  -« 
PultneyviUe,  264-Blocfcade  of  Sack^tf'rHarbor    265-An 

SsfforTe'seS  'Th1fi?^f-^'*S''  ^''^^'^^^  ofTinh'e  Bd" 
iisn  lorce,  -265— The  British  Fleet  retire  to  Kinffston    9fiy 

fown  '^o6;"^^"^?«^^^^^»»«"•»  26r-AnaffHir  S  Sde?N 

aSt  W  Pnt.  ""r  ^t""Lf  "•'^y^'^'  263-Expeditl  Ht 
Sner  ogl  f*""**  Canada  268-Colone'  Ba-bei  taken 
&f^VBrULr";^;?"  ''  Long.Wood,  C..ria,  and  de- 


\u 


IKfDEX. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Assemblage  of  the  left  division  of  the  Armv  at  BU^fc  «    u 
and  BuSaloe,  273-Capture  of  For    EHe    274     A  m^  ^'**^'' 

srift^TIo^"^''  *'  ^--«^«-.  282iDtath  o^g"".:^^^^^^^^ 
&witt,    282— Movement  upon  Fort  Georfr<»     9nc>    ^''"®™* 

B^own  retire,  to  Chippewa^reek,  sSriStle'^^N^^S! 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Defences  ofFort  Erie  extended,  3!J4-.Investe<l  h»  *u^  v 
my.  304-The  BriUsh  land  below  sSe    305    An/"^' 
repulsed  at  Conejockeda  Creek    306-1  Affo..      7^"^  *''* 
30r-Death  of  M^or  Morgan  308  ^TT"'^™*"  of  outposts. 

ono n,,     „       '  *»j»"  iWTg-an,  JUS — Assault  upon  Fort  Ei-i«» 

SOS-!  he  Besiegers  driven  back  to  their  Works  ^15  t  of-* 
of  the  Schooners  Somers  and  Ohio  316  pfnL  irH^* 
cannoaade  and  bombardment,  316.    *  ^^^-^«"ewal  of  the 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Invasion  of  the  American  territory  by  sir  Georee  Prevost   «?lft 

-Bat  le  of  theSaranac,318-Defeit  and  capfure  ofThe*Bri^ 

Vol*  ^r^'\.°"  I'ake  Champlain.  322-PIattsLrg  Evacuafed' 

324-Continuation  of  the  siege  of  Fort  Erie.   sfs-The  Bp  ' 

sieged  make  a  sortie  from  their  Works    and   «fnrm  fK  c 

the^Besiegers.  326-The  BritishT.Jse  \he  sieTe  Tn^rtt'"^ 

to  Chippewa.  328-Engagement  at   Lyon's  ciefk   q^ln '^ 

jtruction  of  Fort  Erie  ^the  Americans,  and  Ev^cu^J":; 

Upper  Canada    330-Operations  againsi   MichiUmack^nac 

o30~L()s3  of  tlie  United  States'  vessels   ^coroion   inH    -S^' 

*   Su'rsSL^^^P^''"^"  ^"°  C**^^^*'  underTenTrarM.J;: 

CHAPTIIR  XXI. 

Repeated  Engagements,  between  the   Gun-Boat  Flotilla  and 
the  Bntish  vessels   in  the  PalUK.nt,  332.3-Blacknabupi 
334-Capture   of  Washington,  336-«.Oi    Ab-xamlr  o  ^  '^^' 

--ueam  ot  General  Ross,  and  repulse  of  his  Armv  34!-. 
Blockade  and  Siege  of  New  Orleans.  344-Defekt  of  t'he  BrI 
T..I  'rS'  '^^''^  350-Termination  of  the  War  by  a 
Treaty  of  Peace  and  Amity,  negociated  at  Ghent.  3^.  ^ 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

The  Navy— Loss  of  the  United  States'  p-:—*-  d :j— .    «..^ 

fC^^r^l  %  «/*  '^^  ^''^P  °^  ^^•*  Levant.  355-Capture  of 
the  Sloop  of  War  Peftguin,  by  the  Hornet,  357. 


HISTORICAL  SKE 


KETCHES   ^ 


OF  THE 


LATE  WAR,  &c 


m 


CHAPTER  I. 

Indian  kosiilitieji— Battle  on  the  Wabash — Condttct  of  the 
British  Cabinet  and  Criasers-^Dedaration  of  War 
against  Great  Britain— Invasion  of  Canadon-Fall  of 

fort  Mickilima^kinac — Skirmish  near  Aux  Canards 

M' Arthur's  excursion— Skixmish  at  Brorvnstown — Eva- 
cuation  of  Sandwich— Battle  of  Maguaga—Fott  Chi- 
cago—Surrender of  Detroit, 

ABOUT  the  close  of  the  year  18!1,  the  Indian 
affairs  on  the  outhem,  and  north'^estern  frontiers  of  the 
United  States,  assumed  an  aspect,  of  a  much  more  alarm- 
ing nature,  than  that  which  had  been  marked  by  any  of  the 
previous  depredations  of  the  neighbouring  tribes.  Inces- 
sant incursions,  were  followed  by  the  extinction  of  whole 
families,  and  the  several  nations  seemed  emulous  of  ex- 
celling each  other  in  acts  of  the  greatest  horror.  An  un- 
cxtmguishable  hostility  was  manifested  by  the  most  pow- 
erful chiefs  and  warriors ;    whose  enmity  towards  the 

frontier  inhnhWanta  uroa  a«^^:»^j  ...  j  i — li: ■ •     • 

^  ,„..^  „„^  wJii^iicM,  auvj  n.cj;;  auvc  uy  aa  indUS- 

tnous  circulation  of  inflammatory  addresses,  and  allurin<r 
"•^'"     The  conduct  of  the  British  traders,  was  far  from 

B 


\ 


gifts. 


* 


\ 


k 


m 


^)'^*n*jr  •*"  ^'Porition,  which  their' 

.0U8  to  the  British  po8t«?        "*^  ^'^^^''^n*  nations,  contigu- 
pZw"?"T^  u""  ^^^^^^^.  who  styled  himself  «  The 

violent  animusities  against  the  people  of  the  Uni^Pd  v^iuil 

had  produced  among  the  Indiai;  on  the  bord^^^^^ 

ba8h,adi8positionto  massacre  and  DhindprTv^ 

an  extent    Hiaf  ♦»!«  „•     ^'^*'  ?""  piunaer,  to  so  enormous 

"mpnf  J^o  '      .     ^®  vigorous  interference  of  the  covern- 

ESf 2?=°' '«—- 

ProK^   rf^  ""^^r  governor  .Harrison,  to  the 

SAp  in?'     k*^^**^  restoration  of  the  plunder 
wnicc  tne  Indians  had  committed   n«d  *«  -^j   F'""ui.r, 

to  terms,  which  should  ^^T  tittle  Tet^^^^^ 
territory.  In  the  monU,  of  November  of  18 1  ?  th;!  k   i"'*^ 
troops  were  within  four  miles  of^hePmDhi;  tl^'fl  ""^ 
ing  already  marched  thirty-foSr  days  rb^efo^^^  ^r  *^" 

had  any  expectation  of  seei^g^hem!  w^^^^^^ 
came  out,  and  proposed  thit  govirnorCriW  ^h.l^^^^ 
encamp  nearjhem  until  mofnin^ll  ^^^^^^^''T. 
Prophet  would  willingly  enter  into  a  treaty  of  pea^  Th- 
proposal  was  agreed  to,  and  the  army  were  Learn  J  '' 
hne  of  battle,  wiUi  orders  to  keep  o^^h^^^^lec"^^^^^^ 
and  to  he  upon  their  arms,  so  that  thev  miJhthft    P 
for  action  without  one  moment's  delay  ^  At  foirnvft 

^mf^grrr^f  ^^t^^^^^"*'^'  theTamp^lt'SrcS 

iuUians  were  found  within  "the  line  ofc'enUnelsTe^t;^^ 
the  commander.  The  meriting  was  ezcessfve?^^^^^^^^^^ 


'■■•jV 


the  men  could  only  be  distinguished  by  the  watch-wotti, 
or  the  flashes  of  the  musquetry.  By  the  aid  of  this  mo- 
mentary light,  the  Indians  were  seen  crowding  into  tiie 
camp,  but  they  were  entirely  routed  by  several  vigorous 
and  intrepid  charges.  The  conduct  of  colonel  Boyd  and 
the  fourth  regiment,  after  the  action  had  become  more 
genera],  intimidated  and  put  the  Indians  to  fliglit ;  at  the 
dawn  of  day  they  were  closely  pursued  and  numbers  of 
them  killed.  The  cavalry  were  now  first  brought  into 
action,  but  the  savages  fled  from  them  in  great  ccnfusion, 
abandoned  their  town,  into  which  they  had  been  driven, 
and  escaped  across  the  river.  Fifty-three  Indians  were 
lying  dead  about  the  encampment,  and  their  loss,  in  killed 
and  wounded,  was  estimated  at  one  hundred  and  fifty.  Of 
the  fourth  regiment,  seventy-seven  were  killed  and  wound- 
ed. The  loss  of  tlie  whole  force  amounted,  from  the  most 
accurate  account,  to  one  hundred  and  eighty-seven.  Most 
of  the  militia  under  governor  Harrison,  behaved  with  great 
courage  and  bravery ;  but  to  colonel  Boyd,  whose  expe- 
rience in  the  Mahrattah  (India)  service,  well  qualified 
him  for  a  combat  with  the  Prophet's  warriors,  is  much  of 
the  success  of  this  battle  to  be  attributed.  Tranquility  be- 
ing now  restored  to  the  territory  of  Indiana,  the  troops  re- 
turned to  fort  Harrison — distance  100  miles — and  the  mi- 
litia to  their  homes.  Many  months  had  not  elapsed,  how- 
ever, before  the  Prophet,  in  connexion  with  Tecumseh,  a 
chief  of  great  valor,  and  of  equal  ambition,  threatened  a 
renewal  of  hostilities,  not  only  against  the  inhabitants  of 
Indianafbnt  of  the  adjacent  territories.^ 

To  guard  against  future  encroachments  from  the  sava- 
ges, and  to  protect  such  of  the  inhabitants  as  had  yet 
escaped  their  fury,  it  was  necessary  that  the  peace  estab- 
lishment should  be  augmented,  and  new  regiments  raised, 
of  a  nattirfe  to  Cope  with  the  Indian  warfare.  Indications  of 
hostility  to  the  interests  of  the  United  States,  were  about 

•  Although  the  affair  on  the  Wabash,  which  has  been  distin- 
guished  by  the  nanve  of  «  The  battle  of  Tippecanoe,"  was  pre- 
vious to  the  declaration  of  war,  it  is  indispensable  to  the  intro- 
duction to  its  history  that  it  should  be  at  least  briefly  referred 
to— The  limits  of  this  work  do  not  admit  of  as  full  a  descrip- 
tion   of    a  victOrV  whirh     hoa  rAAa<<fo/1   an    nt.i^l.    I..>4 >.L - 

.  J-         •• ^•-        !B!-!VI1       lUSllC        WIS         LUC 

American  character,  as  the  author  ii  desirous  to  ffive.  or  the 
reader  perhaps  to  receive. 


■ 


6 

Um*  fime  evinced  in  the  conduct,  as  well  of  the  BritiBh  mi 
nistry,  as  of  their  public  ships  of  war    on   h!  ""/^'^"^»- 
coa«t  in  neutral  po'rts,  and  o^n  the  ocean         "  '^'"'"''" 
♦h;I"  li  ^'';''^?[!'  "'ore  decided  character  being  given  to 
Britain    a^H  7hL*"'T'  '^^^^  ^^^  ^""«^  Bilf  "Great 

these  threateinng  evi,rth:  sefot  setoToT  h"f  tr.Hh 
congress  had  been  protracted  to  an  unusual  length  and  on 

fhftrr!trjr^;«ri  ^*;7^av«i'in.,  thePrlLl%"^^ 
ine  nrst  of  June,  1812,  laid  before  the  two  houses  adetail 

bv  t  TTu  ""^'-'^'^^^  committed  against  this  ^S 
k^ThP.-fr  ^^  government,  and  the  officers  represen  h)g 
as  i?wTs  hTl/f  «"^"««"  ^««  required  to  tWs  subject^ 
?he  Deonll  S  """r''"'^'  ^^  ^^^  greatest  proportion  of 
the  people  that  such  encroaching  injuries  should  at  last 
be  resisted  by  the  most  effectual  meaL.  Documents  be 
ing  m  possession  of  the  executive,  which  placTd  tj;  in- 
sultrng  practices  of  the  British,  against  the  cUmtce  and 
national  honour  of  the  United  States,  beyond  all  dS  21 

«r"bTer^th"*'r''  ^^^^^^^l-^^-rsof 'haTnltL': 
fiacJ  been  m  the  contmued  practice  of  violating  the  Ame- 

;  ncan  flagon  the  great  highway  of  nations,  and  ofseTrg 
and  carrying  off  persons  sailing  under  it;  not  in  the 
exercise  of  a  belligerent  right,  founded  on  thelawof  na! 

"or^sr.bji:;:r^'' '"'  ^'^  "-"^^^^^^  p^^^^^^«- 

"  n*Zp^l^Il^«  ^"-^  Jlf";"  *^^  P'^^*'*^^  ^^^^  of  violating  the 
peace  and  the  rights  of  our  coasts  by  hovering  over,  and 

"fhatrjhf  r\""'''"^  ""^  ***^P"""S  eommerce,.'and 
O^at  to  the  most  insulting  pretensions  they  had  added  the 

mos    lawless  proceedings  in  our  very  harbours,  and 
wan  only  spit  American  blood  within,  the  sanchrarvo 
our  territorial  jurisdiction ;  * 

« ill^''^  *^,^^  ""^'f  ^i'"'"S  ^"^  sacrifice  our  commercial  in- 
terests  and  were  laying  waste  our  neutral  trade,  not  be- 
cause  we  supplied  their  enemy,  but  by  carry  ng  on  a 
waragamst  our  friendly  commerce  that  tL/mightVem^ 
«l;^r.Pr"^  *"  intercourse  with  their  enemy  f 

Ihat  they  were  plundering  our  vessels  on  the  high 
seas  under  pretended  blockades  without  the  neressafv 
presence  of  an  adeauate  forr*.  tn  maJ«fo:«  *u^J^:^t7. 

« to  these  transcendent  acts  of  injustice  "the  ^bTnet"  of 


<'  Great  Britain  added  at  length,  the  sweeping  system  of 
«  blockade  under  the  name  of  orders  in  council,  which  had 
"  been  moulded  to  suit  its  political  views,  its  commercial 
"jealousies,  or  the  avidity  of  British  cruisers ; 

"  That  at  the  very  moment  when  their  publick  minister 
"  was  holduig  the  language  of  friendship  and  inspiring 
**  confidence  in  the  sincerity  of  the  negociations  with  whicli  - 
"  he  was  charged,  a  secret  agent  of  his  government  was 
"  employed  in  intrigues,  having  for  their  object  a  subver- 
"  sion  of  our  government  and  a  dismemberment  of  our 
"  union ; 

"  That  the  warfare  which  was  just  renewed  by  the 
"  savages  on  our  frontiers,  which  spared  neither  age  or  sex, 
"  and  was  distinguished  by  features  peculiarly  shocking 
"  to  humanity,  could  not  be  referred  to  without  connecting 
"  their  hostility  with  the  influence  of  British  traders  and 
"  garrisons,  nor  without  recollecting  the  authenticated  ex- 
*'  amples,  of  the  interpositions  of  the  officers  and  agents  of 
"  that  government"    And, 

"  That  in  fine,  on  the  side  of  Great  Britain,  there  was 
"  a  state  of  war  against  the  United  States ;  and  on  the  side 
"  of  the  United  States  a  state  of  peace  towards  Great  Bri- 
"  tain." 

The  committee  of  foreign  relations,  to  whom  this  mes- 
sage was  referred,  reported  a  manifesto  to  the  house,  in 
which,  after  recapitulating  these  grievances,  they  recom- 
mended, as  the  only  measure  to  prevent  future  aggressioUi 
an  immediate  appeal  to  arms ;  and  on  the  18th  of  June, 
an  act  was  passed,  declaring  war  against  the  kingdom  of 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  and  the  dependencies  thereof; 
which  received  the  executive  sanction. 

A  small  army,  consisting  of  the  4th  regiment  of  infant- 
ry, and  three  regiments  of  Ohio  volunteers,  was  ordered, 
under  the  command  of  brigadier  general  Hull,  to  protect 
the  frontiers  against  the  incursions  of  the  savages.  After 
the  declaration  of  war,  this  force,  being  nearest  to  the 
most  convenient  point  of  invasion,  was  directed  to  repair 
to  the  town  of  Detroit,  on  the  river  of  tl  at  name,  and  op- 
posite Sandwich,  a  beautiful  and  ei^tensive  village  in  Up- 
per Canada. 

On  the  fifth  of  July,  after  a  tedious  and  fatiguing  march 
of  thirty-five  days,  during  which  he  was  obliged  to  fortify 
hi9camp,  at  every  position  which  he  occupied  at  night,  to 

B2 


r 


prevent  a  surprise  from  a  party  nf  Indi-ng  wim  »•  i  ^  i. 
p.tched  for  that  purpose,  and  worked  with  so  much  akm 

Sr^raJz.T'oinr''^"''' '"  "'""•'™ ""  -"'«"'  "f 

invl^ZllcCSl'T  7'''  """"•king for  .n immediate 
EnKaSne^r  «^^  ,7*™  <=»""™«'«d.c«P«ble  of  con- 

;» K:T.TL;etr ii:rnh?:iro?r  "*^ 

«r  neiow  me  point,  selected  to  oppose  their  landin.,   *k« 
anoyance    a  battery  of  seven  small  cannon,  and  two 

rmSatio^toTtSe'onhe'S  "«-« '""'"•"^'''  "■« 
on  the  Canadia^  shore  ahSvlfhl/t  ^5*  "'"'y  '""'«'' 
wich  without  ow.^Sk  Xose  of  tte^^nhTn'r  1  ^'f- 
had  not  been  called  to  repa  r  o  the  de?en  ?lf'  Ma'^ 
4en,  were  without  arms,  and  therefore  made  no  show  „f 

a»iy  respected  m  their  property  and  uprson<!      P/.a=„    • 

ness  and  bTa».r„trT'^'  '°  "'"'"*  f«"n 'he  eyen- 
Xr/ar^  wl^Ser'-t^ 

n^ph:tc^ro7rd!^s."b£'^^^^^^ 

cmy  had  removed  his  most  valuable  storer^d  wiSst  1^' 
was  employed  in  tranenortinn-  th*»m  ♦«  a  .^k„„-xu.._        i*** 


•"i* 


opportunity  wa?  culpably  neglected.    But,  on  hearing  i 
proposition  from  his  otticerB,  to  cross  the.river  beFow    to 
cut  off  the  coniiiiuiiication,  between  the  two  (livisious,  nt 
Sandwich  and  Aniherstburg,  and  suddenly  to  rush  uj/on, 
and  carry  Fort  MalJen  by  storm ; he  tilU<^(n\  the neceshity 
of  wailing  for  positive  orders  for  the  iiuasion  of  Canada, 
before  he  could  embark  his  troops  for  thiit  purpose.  Whilst 
the  force  at  Maiden,  was  weakened  by  the  employment 
of  the  men  at  Handwich,   this  project  might  have  been 
carried  into  effect,  and  his  army,  besides  prisoners,  would 
have  obtained  a  large  accession  of  stores  and  ammunition 
When  he  -^  r-ved  ut   Sandwich,   the  British  army,  with 
these,  and  other  stores,  and  an  augmented  Indian  force 
had  collected  ai,  and  were  placing  Maiden  in  a  state  to 
sustal        lege.     To  attemjrt  the  reducUon  of  that  garrison 
by  storm,  after  the  enemy  had  effected  this  concentration 
of  his  forces,  it  was  necessary  to  proceed  against  it,  with 
a  train  of  battering  cannon,  and  laddere  of  a  sufficient 
height,  and  number,  to  scale  the  walls  at  vari«us  points 
1  he  American  army,  had  neither  of  these  at  that  time  in 
readiness,  and  its  operations  were  delayed  for  one  month 
m  preparing  two  24-pounder8  and  three  howitzers.     In 
this  interval,  such  advantages  were  gained,  as  result  from 
sabsistuig  on  the  resources  of  the  enemy's  country    and 
the  capture  of  some  camp  articles,  and  a  small  sunplv  of 
arms,  by  reconnoitring  parties. 

Meanwhile,  the  British  and  Indians  at  St.  Josephs,  had 
been  making  preparations  for  an  attack  on  Port  Michili- 
mackinac,*  (a  position  on  an  island  of  that  name  and  with- 
in general  Hull's  command)  and  on  the  16th,  four  days 
after  the  occupation  of  Sandwich,  by  the  troops  of  the 
United  States,  the  British  er^   .rked  at  St.  Josephs    a„d 
reached  the  island  early  on  I.      bllowing  morning.   Their 
force,  consisting  of  three  hundred  and  six  white  trooos 
and  seven  hmiured  and  fifteen  Indians,  was  commanded 
by  ca..iain  Roberts,  of  the  British  regulars,  who  sent  in 
a  prisoner  to  inform  the  commandant,  that  if  any  resist 
ance  was  made,  the  garrison  and  inhabitants  would  be  in- 
discriminately put  to  the  sword.     The  inhabitants  know- 
ing that  the  fort  had  but  57  men  for  its  defence,  escaped 
from  the  island,  or  fled  for  refuge  to  the  enemy    in  sreat 
numbers  :  but  manv  of  th^rr.  Ko.i  ^^  ■     -       ^'^*'**^ 

*  PronouDced—Mackinaw. 


suiCi  no  Gppofiumty  to  dt) 


■/:"« 


ifcsie* 'W»fti,»(f f*  jSs  j 


I     ,-       i,j 


K' 


!0 

cither,  and  ir ere  obliged  to  remain,  and  abide  the  issue  of  the 
day.    The  commandant  of  the  garrison,  lieutenaat  Porter 
Hanks,  of  the  artdlery,  .ietermined  to  give  as  gallant  a  re- 
sistance to  the  asRailants,  as  his  small  force  would  allow  him 
The  island  of  Michilijnackinac  is  about  nine  miles 
in  circumference,  of  irregular  form,  and  broken   sur- 
lace.    It  18  separated  from  the  main  land  by  a  strait  of 
about  seven  nailes  broad,  its  greatest  breadth  is  three  miles, 
and  Its  elevation  above  the  lake,  on  its  highest  ground 
about  one  hundred  and  bfx V'.ight  feet.    A  proposal  was 
made  to  government,  in  3797,  to  erect  a  citadel  oki  this 
elevation,  which  would  be  impregnable.    Two  square 
stone  houses,  united  by  a  stockade,  stand  in  l^e  rear  of 
the  fort,  which  is  situated  on  a  bluff  rock  rising  from  the 
water,  but  is  entirely  overiobked  by  the  high  ground  at 
the  distance  of  six  hundred  yards.    The  island  itself  is  of  a 
circular  form,  highest  in  the  centre,  and  resembling  a  tur- 
tle s  back  ;  from  which  circumstance  it  is  said  to  have 
taken  its  name--(Michilimackinac,  or  the  Turtle.) 

The  enemy  had  landed  on  the  back  part  of  the  island,  and 
urged  his  approach  within  cannon  shot  of  the  fort,  w^ere 
he  gained  the  eminence  commanding  it,  and  from  which 
he  directed  a  piece  of  heavy  cannon  against  its  most  de- 
fenceless Side.    The  Indians  were  arranged  on  the  edge 
of  an  adjoining  wood.    The  British  commandant  now 
«ent  a  flag,  with  a  demand  for  the  surrender  of  the  fort 
and  island,  and  communicated  the  first  intelligence,  which 
the  garrison  received,  of  the  declaration  of  war.     The 
movement  of  the  British  and  Indians,  had  been  until  this 
moment  considered  as  one,  among  the  many  outrages,  to 
which  the  irontier  of  that  neighborhood  had  been  expos- 
ed, and  the  American  commandant  had  resolved  to  shut 
himself  up,  and  defend  the  fortress  to  the  very  last  ex- 
tremity, though  it  should  result  in  the  total  annihilation  of 
his  force.    But,  on  being  informed  of  the  actual  state  of 
hostilities,  he  was  aware,  that  if  he  held  out,  the  enemy 
whose  present  number  could  not  be  effectually  opposed' 
might  be  largely  reinforced,  and  that  the  fall  of  the  garri- 
son, would  be  followed  by  the  threatened  indiscriminate 
slaughter,  as  well  of  the  soldiers  composing  it,  as  of  the 
non-combatant  inhabitants  of  the  islands     The  onlv  mpe.f- 
ure  which  could  save  them  from  the  brutal  massacre  of 
the  savages,  was  a  surrender  of  the  fort  to  the  British,  and 


n 


lieutenant  Hanks  very  prudently  entered  into  terms  of 
capitulation,  in  which  he  secured  a  promised  protection 
to  all  private  property,  though  he  put  the  enemy  in  pos- 
.  session  of  a  fortress,  susceptible  of  being  rendered  the 
strongest  in  America. 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  loss  of  MichilimackinaC) 
took  place  on  the  17th  of  July,  and  that  general  Hull, 
already  apprized  of  the  war,  arrived  at  Detroit  on  the  fifth 
— and  the  reader  will  judge,  whether  this  intelligence  could 
not  have  been  transmitted  to  Michiliniackinac,  a  distance 
of  254  miles,  and  whelher  that  post  ought  not  have  been 
immediately  reinforced.  The  enemy  had  knowledge  of 
the  existence  of  hostilities,  through  the  activity  of  persons 
concerned  in  the  northwest  Fur  Company,  nine  days jpre- 
aeding  the  arrival  of  the  American  disposables,  whilst  the 
American  gjarrison  was  suffered  to  remain  in  ignorance  for 
twelve  da}  s  after— and  to  the  vigilance  of  one  side,  and  the 
tardiness,  or  negligence  of  the  other,  is  this  disaster  to  be 
ascribed. 

Preparations  were  still  going  on  at  Sandwich,  for  an  at- 
tempt on  Maiden,  when  the  army  were  informed  of  the  af- 
fair at  Michilimackinac  by  the  capture  of  two  vessels  in 
which  the  prisoners  taken  there,  had  been  embarked. 
Unless  the  contemplated  attack  on  Maiden,  should  result 
in  the  success  of  the  American  arms,  the  situation  of  the 
troops  would  become  critical  in  the  extreme ;  the  posses- 
sion of  Michilimackinac  gave  the  enemy  many  decided 
advantages,  and  if  the  capture  of  that  post  was  followed  up 
by  an  assault  on  fort  Chicago,  all  the  fortified  stations  west 
of  Detroit,  would  be  in  his  hands,  and  the  whole  of  his  In- 
dian forces  might  be  thrown  upon  that  frontier.  Detroit 
would  be  an  easy  conquest,  and  the  American  army  might 
be  so  encompassed,  that  its  retreat  would  be  impossible. 
The  Indians  from  the  shores  of  the  northwestern  lakes, 
were  already  released  from  constraint,  and  the  British  com- 
mander was  collecting  large  bodies  of  Ihem,  to  move  down 
upon  Detroit,  and  the  intermediate  garrisons.  Depending 
on  the  arrival  of  reinforcements,  however,  for  which,  in 
anticipation  of  these  events,  general  Hull  had  despatched 
numerous  expresses  ;  and  being  assured  of  the  importance 

_-^ j,„,,„^,  .J.J,  iiiiiiici=i«uij^,  nc  ixiiiiiiiicu  ai  oanti- 

wish,  carrying  on  an  excursive  war  by  small  parties,  and 
reconnoitering  the  enemy's  outposts  with  incessant  vigi- 


?< 


12 

ti3^^^u^rdiT    *^«'^"P?^ '  and  divert  the  atten- 
inrpart  of  fhpl^^^  ««  ««°^  ««  the  remain^ 

rLlt^  ?'^''''  "8  progress  was  obstructed  by  a  rfbutar^ 

sary,  and  time  waa  comequently  allowed  for  the  enemv 
to  prepare  for  his  defence^  On  coming  down  The  creSf 
colonel  Cass  found  the  British  already  formed,  and  rS 
ed  from  them  a  distant  fire  of  musquetrr  i  deS 
men  moved  on,  however,  in  good  order  and  with  sreat 
spm  and  alacrity.  The  Britishf  who  had  b^„  reinfoS 
at  mtervals,  during  the  whole  afternoon,  and  whose  num- 
ber was  made  up  of  the  41  st  regiment,  ind  some   nS 

jelled  to  retreat,  the  detachment  continuing  to  move  un 
iShiZ  ^^./h'^^^PP.-^ition.  They  werf  driven  mo  e 
than  half  a  mile,  when  the  darkness  of  the  night  made  fur- 

ptrs'th":^^^^^^^         '"'  ?'«"^*  ^^-^^'«  ««"o 

possess  the  bridge,  and  some  adjoining  houses,  until  moru- 
SI  th^^^  -connoitering  the  neighbourhood,  anTnot 
at  sTnVi^-  h  T^''  ^^  commenced  his  return  to  the  camp 
at  Sandwich.  No  accurate  information  could  be  obtained 
ot  the  force  opposed  to  the  detachment,  but  the  loss  of 

woun"dp7' t"1!  '??''f  by  deserters,  at  eleven  killed  and 
wounded.  The  detachment  lost  not  a  single  man.  The 
bndge  was  afterwards  fortified  by  the  British,  with  six 

TtDlIf™  ""T^'^'  *""'  *^''  ^^^^  ^««"^^^  insufficient  for 
Its  defence,  they  removed  both  bridge  and  baiteiy,  and 


13 

8lr«mbe?''^^"''°  ^^^^^  a^reastwork  constrncted  from 

1  Ji'!«  f"^'  ^"*''  ^^^^^  •'"^^^  ^*»'«°«'  M'Arthur,  with 
160  men  from  Ins  own  regiment  (Ohio  volunteers)  on  re- 

heymg  a  detachment  which  was  out,  proceeded  to  the  r^- 

connoitenng  ground  of  colonel  C^    whence   he  d^- 

covered  the  enemy--85  regulars,  40  Indians,  ami  160  ml 

20  ..T.  rJ'^  ''?.^''  ^'**'^-  '^'^^  Q"*'^"  Charlotte  of 
20  guns  being  at  the  same  time  anchored  in  Detroit  river 

abuSt  h^Sr^Thl^""  ''^"'f'^'  "^^^  ^  sun  boat  ciurslng 
tween^h.  hi  ^""g^^^^  ^ept up  for  nearly  an  hour  be- 
tween  the  battery,  and  a  few  riflemen  in  advance  of  th« 

mT.L^''^  ^^  *^^  ^''^^  *  *'"*««««  to  have  Xt  whtt 
M'Arthur  was  examining  the  Queen  Charlott^     '        '' 

fh.  ."fl  "    ^^  ""^  ^"^"^y  '^^  ^^"  protected  by  thebatterr 

,the  riflemen  were  ordered  to  rpfjw.  fr.fK^  a  *    '"^"*»"«rr» 

M'Awhiir'a  ^i^o:-  "'"*^'^"  '"  r®"»e  to  the  detachment,  but 

eLml  inH         f .  *^  ^'^*'''^**"  **»«  *r"«  situation  of  the 
!r«!5' w   "f.^**  ^"™  *^  SO  near  the  broken  bridge  with  a 
flTi'u    "l^^'^co^^red  that  thelndian#had  princTnali; 
left  the  battery,  and  was  almost  at  the  sameKnt  „ 
formed  by  a  messenger  from  the  detachmenUhat  a  num-" 
ber  of  them  were  seen  passing  to  a  road  in  its  rear      nl 
was  now  attended  by  Dr.  MW  and  raptrPuth^ff 
who  on  turning  their  horses  to  ride  with  him  to  the  det«rh 
ment,  were  fired  upon  by  about  thirty  IndTans  frnm   h  •' 

His  men  were  led  to  the  nnrKnif  nf  tu^  i  j-  grouna. 

cruelty  in  the  u^of  1 '       .  '*f'' ".r/*"" '"''  "''""^'S 
frontier,  waTat  tl,e  htrt 'ofT",*.^  iohabitants  of  the 

Af ,»..!'.  '^_.Jr''"r  *"''  ■"»  companions  from  a  tmr.„ 
TecumSh  wr?™^l?,""T°''T  ''y  =""''  «  warrior  ai 


^4 


H) 


il 


^,  I 


t^f 


n 

fire  of  the  Indians    and  put  them  to  immediate  ffigj,t. 

M  ArUiur  encamped  for  the  night  within  two  miles   of 

til?         "lu""'^  ^'^  ^^  following  morning  returned  to 

<£L     /'  >^'th  colonel  Cass,  and  one  hundred  men,  by 

whom  he  was  then  joined.  '  ^ 

Between  this  time  and  the  bej^nning  of  August    no 

event  took  place,  which  could  afford  the  American  troops 

an  opportumfy  of  displaying  their  true  character.     The 

inclemency  of  the  weather  was  very  unfavourable  to  the 

operations  of  an  army      Sudden  transitions  from  extreme 

heat,  to  mtense  cold  followed  by  violent  storn^s  of  rain 

T hPv  iJ^/k        'n  ^^''"'  ^""'^  "'^^'^  ^^  discontented. 
Ihey  had  been  all  enamoured  of  an  expedition,  which 
promised  them  so  mucli  honour  and  renown,  and  when 
they  landed  on  the  Canadian  shore,  they  were  filled  with 
such  assurances  of  conquest,  as  made   their  impatience 
tor  achievement  almost  ungovernable.      The  tardiness 
which  now  seemed  inseparable  from  the  conduct  of  their 
commander  dispirited  them,  and  destroyed  whatever  of 
confidence  they  might  have  reposed  in  him  before      The 
result  of  a  councli  of  war,  however,  which  it  was  found 
necessary  to  convoke,  revived  all  their  desires,  and  a  spir- 
it, no  Jess  active  than  that,  wi(h  which  they  had  set  out, 
pervaded  the  whole  encampment.     In  two  days  more,  by 
proper  exertions,  every  arraiicrement  would  be  completed 
for  the  investment  of  fort  Maiden.    At  the  end  of  that  time 
the  heavy  cannon  might  be  ready ;  if  they  should  not, 
Uie  council  recommended  an  attempt  with  the  bayonet. 
Ihe  Uritish  garrison  had  been  constantly  deserted  by  the 
embodied  Canaditv.i  militia,  and  a  vigorous  attack  upon  it, 
however  gallant  the  defence,  could  not  but  be  attended 
with  ultimate  success.     The  deliberations  of  the  council 
corresponded  with  the  opinions  of  the  general,  and  the 
day  was  appointed  on  which  the  assault  was  to  take  place 
Ihe  cannon  were  well  mounted,  and  embarked  on  float- 
ing batteries  ;   the  ammunition  was  already  placed  in 
waggons  provided  for  its  conveyance;  the  troops  were 
animated  by  tlie  prospect  of  a  combat,  and  not  at  all 
doubtful  of  a  certain  and  brilliant  victory. 

A  company  of  volunteers  from  Ohio,  under  command  of 
captain  Brush,  had  arrived  at  the  river  Raisin,  with  a  quanti- 
ly  oi  provisions  for  the  army.  Although  the  troops"  were 
already  supphed  for  many  days,  these  provisions  might  be 


16 

necessaiy  in  the  event  of  conquest.  The  distance  from 
Detroit,  to  the  point  at  which  they  had  arrived  was  thirty- 
B.X  miles,  and  their  inarch  was  liable  to  be  intercepted,  by 
scouUng  parties  Iron,  the  enemy.  Major  Vanhorne  was 
therefore  despatched,  with  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  to 
meet,  and  escort  them  to  their  destination.  He  had  near 
y  reached  Brownstown,  on  his  second  day's  march,  whea 
be  was  attacked  in  front,  and  on  both  fliiks,  by  a  very 
superior  force,  regulars  and  Indians.  A  warm  engaJ- 
jnent  followed.  To  the  Americans,  the  odds  were  fearfuf- 
but  their  resistance  was  obstinate.  A  retreat  became  in- 
dispensable, but  to  succeed  in  it,  the  exercise  of  great 

in  S^nf  r-  ""^'^''^'y;  The  volunteers  had  confidlnce 
m  that  of  their  commander,  and  he  brought  them  off,  wiUi 

Among  the  former  were  captains  M'CuIloch,  Bostlerand 
Gi  crease  wlio  fought  with  that  gallantry,  which  has  never 
failed  to  distinguish  the  citizens  of  the  stete  to  which  tlTy 
belonged  ;  among  the  latter  wa.  captain  Ulry,  since  deSf 

'tlions''''"         "^^^  "°  *^''  °''*'*®  ^^^"^  **"*'  ""^  ^**  ««"»- 
Major  Vanhorne  had  scarcely  been  sent  from  Sand- 
wich, when  a  change  of  measures  was  adopted  by   the 
hTotZ  ^Pf;?,^^^»««/«  the  wishes  and  entities  of  aS 
dnn.H    !  !J  J^^  enterprise  against  Maiden  was  aban- 
doned,  and  he  announced  his  intention  of  evacuating 
Canada,  and  of  posting  himself  at  fort  Detroit.     The  oro? 
mulgation  of  his  intentions,  was  attended  by  an  order  to 
break  up  the  encampment,  and  to  recross^the  river   n 
the  night.     Consternation  and  dismay  were  visible  in  the 
countenance  of  every,  the  meanest  soldier  ;  thX  confi! 
dence  was  destroyed,  and  they  considered  thei^  com- 
mander  as  timid,  and  irresolute.    The  presence  of  thSp 
own  officers,  on  whose  capabilities  they  implicitly  relied 
alone  prevented  one  universal  burst  of  indigna^^o^„     Re! 
luctantly,  and  with  much  murmuring,   they  obeyed  the 
order;  and  ^  at  day  break  of  the  morning  onhe  dghth 
Ihey  found  themselves  garrisoned  at  DeLit.     Here    the 
mtelligenc<3  of  the  late  skirmish  was  received.  ' 

.^  \?'"'""«'*'^"*'°'  ^'"^^»  had  been  opened  by  the 
army,  between  RaJsiti  o«,i  fu^; ^-__x..-  J  „      ^y  in9 

should  be  again  opened,  or  the  pwyWons  ^  Zt  riteSr 


•i.. 


16 

eouldnerer  reach  the  garrison,  which,  in  a  few  weeks, 
would  be  in  want  of  rations. 

To  lieutenant-coionel  James  Miller,  the  command  of  a 
strong  detaelunent,  was  for  this  purpose  assigned.  He 
immediately  took  up  his  line  of  march  with  three  hundred 
regulars,  and  two  hundred  militia.  The  regulars  were  of 
the  fourth  regiment,  which  had  acquired  imperishable  re- 
nown under  the  gallant  colonel  Boyd,  at  Tippecanoe.  The 
British  and  Indians,  anticipated  the  return  of  the  detach- 
ment which  they  had  driven  back,  and  calculated  that  it 
would  be  largely  reinforced.  Their  own  body  was  there- 
fore increased  to  a  number,  competent,  as  they  supposed,  to 
drive  off,  or  perhaps  to  capture  them.  They  were  seven 
hundred  and  fifty  strong,  and  might  be  reinforced  during 
an  engagement,  from  Maiden,  opposite  to  which  was  the 
rillage  of  Brownstown,  which  they  had  taken  possession 
of  a  few  days  before.  They  fortified  the  ground  at  a 
place  called  Maguaga,  nearly  four  miles  from  Browns- 
town,  by  felling  trees  and  erecting  breastworks.  Behind 
the8e,they  intended  to  conceal  themselves,  until  the  Amer- 
icans should  attain  the  point,  at  which  they  might  deal  out 
to  them  what  measure  of  destruction  they  pleased.  The 
Indians  were  commanded  by  their  great  leader,  Tecum- 
«eh  J  the  united  force  by  major  Muir,  of  the  British  army. 

On  the  ninth,  the  American  troops,  though  they  proceed- 
«d  with  great  caution,  reached  the  ground  on  which  the 
-enemy  desired  to  see  them,  before  they  discovered  their 
ambuscade.  Captain  Snelling,  commanding  the  advance, 
was  attacked  from  it,  and  sustained  a  combat  until  the 
main  body  came  up,  when  the  British  and  Indians  sprang 
suddenly  from  behind  the  works,  formed  a  line  of  battle  with 
'great  celerity,  and  commenced  a  brisk  fire,  accompanied 
with  all  the  demonstrations  of  savage  war.  Sudden  and 
unexpected  as  was  the  attack,  the  intrepid  commander  of 
the  American  force  was  not  the  least  dismayed  ;  his  troops 
tfeceived  the  shock  without  shrinking ;  and  with  a  coolness 
,«nd  sagacity,  which  are  commonly  looked  for  in  soldiers 
of  long  experience,  he  as  suddenly  drew  up  his  men,  and 
*fter  a  rapid  fire,  charged  upon  the  enemy  with  such  un- 
booked for  firmness,  as  to  throw  them  into  complete  dis- 
order. The  obstinacy  of  the  Indians,  however,  would 
not  adniii  of  flight ;  they  might  not  act  in  concert  with 
lh«  British^. and  resorting  to  their  own  kiBd  of  combat, 


It 

they  were  resolved  not  to  abandon  the  contest.    But  the 
British  had  now  recovered  from  their  confusion,  and  a 
scene  of  indescribable  horror  ensued.    Five  hundred  In- 
dians, led  on,  and  encouraged  by  the  regulars,  (many  of 
whom  were  like   themselves  almost  naked,)  frightfully 
painted,  and  sending  forth  such  dreadful  whooping  and 
yellmg,  as  might  have  appalled  almost  any  other  t.-oops, 
were  fighting  on  every  side  of  the  American  detachment; 
but  on  every  side  they  were  gallantly  repulsed.     No  such 
means  could  induce  these  brave  men  to  forsake  their 
standard,    or  to  disgrace  their  nation.    They  saw  dan- 
ger strengthening  around  them,  they  knew  what  kind 
of  destiny  awaited  their  defeat,  and' they  were  resolute- 
ly determined  to  repel  the  foe,  or  to  yield  only  with 
their  lives.      Colonel  Miller  found   himself  contending 
against  a  force,  more  than  one   third  superior  to  his 
own,  out  he  was  animated  by  the  same  spirit,  which  was 
exhibited  by  his  men.     Over  such  men,  headed  by  such 
a  commander,  the  enemy  could  not  hope  to  be  victorious. 
1  he  firmness  of  the  Americans  had  that  effect  upon  the 
Bntish  a^id  Indians,  which  it  was  intended,  by  their  sav- 
^e  noises,  should  be  produced  on  them.    They  found 
that  they  had  no  terrours  to  resort  to,  which  could  attain 
their  end,  and  they  began  from  necessity  to  give  ground. 
The  obstinacy  of  the  detachment,  was  equal  to  the  deter- 
mined character  of  the  Indians,  and  the  latter  bec&me 
first  intimidated.    The  united  forces  were  driven,  inch  by 
inch,  into  Brownstown ;  and  would  have  been  beaten  in- 
to submission,  had  not  a  squadron  of  boats  been  readv 
to  receive  them,  at  that  place.     They  made  as  rapid  a  re- 
treat across  the  river,  as  their  oarsmen  knew  how,  and  re- 

u"l  i*"  ^^^^'^^  ''''^  «"  ^°f«n«''  force,  than  that  with 
which  they  had  left  it.  Their  loss,  was,  in  regulars,  seven 
killed  and  wounded  j  of  Indians  they  left  nearly  one 
hundred  on  the  field.  In  the  stout  contest,  which  the  de- 
tachment kept  up  for  more  than  two  hours,  there  were 
kHIed  fifteen,  and  wounded  between  thirty  and  forty.  The 
officers  who  principally  distinguished  themselves,  were 
captain  Baker,  lieutenants  Larabee  and  Peters,  and  ensign 
Whistler    The  first  of  them  was  shot  three  different  timL 

durinsr  the  hsttiU  •  fho  «^«««xi  i^„*  u:-  i-x-x  ,  .. 

♦K-^«  i  #* "  '.  '""^  ■-'^»^""«  iu=i  1113  ivii  arm  ;  ana  me 

three  latter  were  also  wounded.  Colonel  Miller  remained 
at  Brownstown  until  the  meridian  of  the  next  day,  when 


1 

r. 

f 

'l' 

it 

I 

!:f 

•it 


18 

he  receired  orders  to  return  to  Detroit.  The  troops  were 
exhausted  by  so  vigorous  an  engagement,  and  they  would 
have  been  unable  to  proceed  furllier.  A  fresh  detachment 
would  probably  be  sent  upon  the  same  expedition  ;  and 
eolonel  Miller,  knowing  how  necessary  it  was,  that  his  mea 
should  be  refreshed,  was  not  averse  from  this  order. 

Captain  Brush  was  still  waiting  at  the  river  Raisin  for 
an  escort,  when  he  received  a  letter  from  general  HuU, 
of  the  eleventh  of  August,  in  the  following  words: 
"  The  state  of  the  communication  between  this  [Detroit] 
"  and  the  river  Raisin  is  such,  that  a  sufficient  detachment 
"  cannot  be  sent  to  bring  on  the  provisions  with  safety. 
"  you  will  therefore  remain  at  the  river  Raisin,  and  in 
"  conjunction  with  the  regiment,  Le  Croix's  corps,  and 
"  your  own,  protect  the  provisions  and  yourselves  until 
"  further  orders.  The  detachment  sent  for  the  purpose 
"  are  so  fatigued,  after  a  severe  and  victorious  battle, 
"  that  it  will  return  here."  In  a  postscript  to  this  letter,  it 
was  left  to  the  "discretion  of  captain  Brush,  on  consulting 
with  colonel  Anderson,  and  the  bearer  of  the  letter,  to 
proceed  by  a  route  on  an  upper  road,  crossing  the  river 
Huron  ;  on  determining  on  which,  immediate  notice  was 
to  be  given  at  Detroit  Colonels  Cass  and  M'Arthur 
were  despatched,  on  th'j  evening  of  the  14th,  with  three 
hundred  and  fifty  men,  to  assist  in  the  transportation  of 
the  provisions,  through  that  channel. 

On  the  same  day  on  which  the  victory  at  Maguaga  was 
achieved,  captain  Heald,  the  commandant  at  fort  Chicago, 
since  called  fort  Dearborn,  received  orders  to  proceed 
immediately  with  his  comm'iand  to  Detroit,  by  land.  Ac- 
cordingly on  the  fifteenth,  after  delivering  to  the  friendly 
Indians,  in  conformity  to  his  instructions,  all  the  goods  in 
the  factory,  and  such  provisions  as  could  not  be  taken 
away,  and  destroying  the  surplus  arms  and  ammunition, 
he  commenced  his  march  with  fifty-four  regulars,  and 
twelve  militia,  the  whole  amount  of  his  force,  and  was 
escorted  by  captain  Wells,  of  fort  Wayne,  and  a  few . 
friendly  Indians  of  the  Miami  tribe,  sent  thither  for  that 
purpose.  As  the  place  would  now  be  defenceless,  the  in- 
habitants, principally  women  and  children,  were  directed  to 
accompany  the  troops.  The  little  party  had  not  proceeded 
more  than  one  mile  and  an  half,  between  a  high  sand-bank, 
Bud  the  lake,  when  it  was  discovered  that  a  number  of  hos- 


**f  s 


li^ 


tisin,  and  in 


e,  and  was 


19 

tile  Indians  were  preparing  to  attack  them,  from  behindth* 
bank.  Captain  Heald  immediately  ordered  his  compaw 
to  ascend  it ;  and  they  had  scarcely  done  so,  n  hen  an 
action  commenced  in  which,  after  firing  one  round,  and 
charging  with  great  velocity,  upon  the  Indians,  the  latter 
were  obliged  to  give  way  in  front,  but  joining  the  party 
on  the  American  flanks,  they  kept  up  their  fire,  and  got 
possession  of  all  the  horses,  provisions,  and  baggage,  of 
every  description.  The  friendly  Indians  standing  aloof, 
refusing  to  take  part  in  the  contest,  and  apparently  await- 
ing the  issue,  that  they  might  determine  on  which  side  to 
belong,  made  it  necessary  for  captain  Heald  to  draw  off 
his  few  men,  and  take  possession  of  a  small  elevation,  in 
an  open  priarie,  out  of  shot  of  the  bank,  or  any  other 

?f  I-®'*  J'T  **®  '«<^e»v«d  an  offer  of  protection,  from  an 
Wdian  chief,  on  condition  of  his  surrender  ;  which,  with- 
out much  reliance  on  its  faith,  he  accepted,  because  of  the 
great  disparity  of  force,  the  Indian  warriors  amounting  to 
nearly  five  hundred.  Their  loss  was  about  fifteen.  Of 
the  Americans,  twenty-six  regulars,  and  all  the  militia 
were  killed :  among  them,  captain  Wells  and  ensign 
George  Roman,  both  oflicers  of  great  gallantry.  Two 
women,  and  twelve  children  were  also  killed.  The  IndiaiA 
had  it  now  in  their  power,  to  move  to  any  part  of  the 
country,  through  which  the  communication  had  been 
formed  between  the  river  Raisin  and  Detroit,  and  num- 
bers of  them  were  accordingly  posted  at  several  pomts 
on  that  road,  whilst  a  stronger  party  proceeded  against 
fort  Wayne  Their  absence  ^as  taken  advantage  of,  by 
captain  Hp^!.  *hey  had  taken  to  the  mouth  of  St 

Josephs,  and  w.  ,  with  his  lady,  procured  a  convey- 

ance to  Michilini  a^  where  he  was  received  politely 
by  the  commandaai,  captain  Roberts.  Mrs.  Heald  was 
wounded  by  six  shot— the  captain  by  two. 

Any  attempt  to  accelerate  the  transportation  of  the  pro- 
visions, would  now  be  useless,  for  on  the  thirteenth,  the 
Uritish  had  taken  a  position  opposite  Detroit.  They 
were  occupied  in  throwing  up  breastworks,  during  that 
and  the  two  following  days  ;  at  the  end  of  which  time 
they  had  completed  a  battery,  of  two  eighteen  pounders. 
Tu~  A — ^""  "'^"  """'"■^^r,  vviinoui  any  mierrupUuii  innA 
the  American  fort.  Major  Denny,  of  the  volunteers,  who 
had  been  left  m  garrison  at  Sandwich,  with  two  hundred 

C2 


20 


^  I . 


■.'i 


*ff; 
1^ 


and  fifty  infantry,  and  a  corps  of,  artillerists,  was  obliged-, 
on  their  approach,  to  make  his  retreat  across  the  river. 
This  he  effected,  in  good  order. 

On  the  fifteenth,  a  flag  of  truce  was  received  from  the 
British,  with  the  folh)wing  summons  :  "  Sir — The  force 
"  at  my  disposal  authorises  me  to  require  of  you  the  sur- 
"  render  of  fort  Detroit.  It  is  far  from  my  inclination 
"  to  join  in  a  war  of  extermination,  but  you  must  be 
"  aware,  that  the  numerous  body  of  Irnlians  who  have 
"  attached  themselves  to  my  troops,  will  be  beyond  my 
"  controul,  the  moment  the  contest  commences.  You 
"  will  find  me  disposed  to  ent«r  into  such  conditions  as 
*•  will  satisfy  the  most  scrupulous  sense  of  honour.  Lieu- 
**  tenant  colonel  M'Donnell  and  m^jor  Hh-^g  are  fully  ai*- 
"  thorised  to  conclude  any  arrangepient  that  may  lead  to 
"  prevent  the  unnecessary  effusion  of  blood.  I  have  the 
"  honor  to  be,  &c.  ISAAC  BROCK,  Maj.  Gen. 

"  His  Ex.  Brig.  Gen.  Hull,  com'gatfort  Detroit." 
To  this  summons  it  was  returned  for  answer,  that  the 
"  town  and  fort  would  be  defended  to  the  last  extremity." 
The  British  then  opened  then-  batteries  upon  the  town, 
and  continued  to  throw  their  shells  into  the  fort,  from  four 
©•clock  until  midnight.  The  tire  was  returned  until  dark 
with  little  effect.  At  day  light  the  next  morning,  the  firing 
«gam  commenced,  whilst  the  British,  under  the  protection 
of  their  ships,  were  landing  their  forces  at  Spring  Wells. 
At  about  ten  o'clock  they  proceeded  in  a  close  column 
twelve  in  front,  along  the  bank  of  the  river  towards  the 
lort; 

From  fort  Detroit  the  enemy  could  not  have  been  pre- 
Tented  from  landing,  had  he  attempted  it,  even  in  its 
more  immediate  vicinity.  Its  situation  had  been  orig- 
inally chosen  without  skill;  the  town  actually  standing 
between  it  and  the  river,  and  the  foot  of  the  scarp  being 
more  than  two  hundred  rods  from  it.  On  the  evening 
of  the  fifteenth  it  was  therefore  suggested  to  general 
Hull,  that  the  British  should  be  opposed  on  the  margin 
of  the  river,  thai  there  was  a  position  at  that  point, 
whence  they  could  be  destroyed,  with  the  utmost  certain- 
ty, as  fast  as  they  could  land  ;  and  that  a  strong  battery, 
well  manned  there,  would  be  a  better  security  than  the 
fort  of  Detroit      The  susrsestions  of 


rvanm.nl    II.. 117..      ..AC 


ce/s,  were  too  often  disregarded.    The  enemy  had  now» 


Wm 


t4 


•M 


,  was  obligecTv 
T088  the  river. 

;ived  from  the 
lir — The  force 
if  you  the  aur- 
ay  inclinatioa 
you  must  be 
aiis  who  have 
tie  beyond  my 
nenceH.  You 
conditions  as 
lonoiir.  Lieii- 
;g  are  fully  aiv 
it  may  lead  to 
i  I  have  the 
L,  Maj.  Gen. 
t  Detroit." 
5wer,  that  the 
st  extremity." 
»on  the  town, 
fort,  from  four 
led  until  dark 
tiing,  the  firing 
the  protection 
Spring  Wells, 
close  column, 
•  towards  the 

ive  been  pre- 
,  even  in  its 
d  been  orig- 
ally  standing 
>  scarp  being 
the  evening 
d  to  general 
I  the  margin 
t  that  point, 
most  certaia- 
rong  battery, 
irity  than  the 

r>,l      U..II7 tX 

a:     Z.XU!!   3     !■!«- 

my  had  now 


SI 

fondei!,  and  no  obstruction  could  prevent  his  approach , 
until  he  sliould  be  either  in  the  rear  of  the  town,  or  of  the 
fort,  when  all  the  strength  of  the  latter  might  be  sue  ess- 
fully  brought  against  him.     The  fourth  regiment  was  sta- 
tioned within  the  fort ;  the  Ohio  volunteers,  and  part  of 
the  Michigan  militia,  behind  pickets,  from  which  the  ene- 
my's whole  flank  could  (ii  annoyed  ;  the  residue  of  the 
militia  were  in  the  town,  to  resist  the  Indians  ;  and  two 
twenty-four  pounders,  loaded  with  grape  shot,  were  post- 
ed on  an  eminence,  from  which  they  could  sweep  the  ad- 
vancing column.     The  superiority  of  position  was  appa-  - 
rent  on  the  side  of  the  Americans,  and  their  force  at  least 
equal  to  that  of  the  enemy.     They  »iad  four  hundred 
rounds  of  twenty-four  pound  shot,  already  fixed,  and 
about  one  hundred   thousand  cartridges  made.      Their 
provisions  were  sufficient  for  fifteen  days,  and  ;  very  man 
of  them,  awaited  the  approach  of  the  enemy  with  a  full 
and  eager  expectation  of  victory.     The  head  of  the  col- 
umn had  advanced  within  five  hundred  yards  of  the  Amer- 
ican line,  when  general  Hull  ordered  the  troops  to  retreat 
to  the  fort,  and  not  by  any  means  to  open  the  twenty- 
four  pounders  upon  the  enemy.    The  feelings  of  the  sol- 
diers were  not  now  to  be  restrained,  as  they  had  been  a 
few  days  before  at  Sandwich.  Indignation  at  the  conduct 
and  contempt  for  the  capacity  of  the  commanding  gene^ 
ral,  could  not  longer  be  disguised,  and  they  loudly  uttered 
their  discontent.     They  entered  the  fort,  however,  which 
though  crowded  so  that  any  movement  was  impractica- 
ble, was  scarcely  capable  of  containing  them.     Here  they 
were  directed  to  stack  their  arms,  and  they  had  the  mor- 
tification to  see  the  flag  of  their  country  stnick  to  the  in- 
vaders, and  the  fort  surrendered,  without  the  discharge  of 
a  smgle  gun.     A  white  flag  was  suspended  from  its  walls 
and  such  was  the  astonishment,  even  of  the  enemy's 
troops,  that  a  British  officer  rode  up,  to  ascertain  its  mean- 
«hg.     It  was  the  first  instance,  perhaps,  which  they  had 
ever  known,  of  the  surrender  of  a  military  post,  without  a 
previous  arrangement  of  the  terms ;  and  they  had  little 
expectation   of  so   tame  a   submission.      Those  brave 
troops,  who  had  but  eight  days  before  beaten,  and  put  this 
samejnemy  to  flight,  were  now  obliged  to  march  out  in 
i^YseiT,  Oiiu  lay  dowQ  their  arms  to  an  inferior  forccj  wh« 


MMi 


Bm 


.1 


::J! 


r^ 


li 


h«f1  dose  no  other  thing  towarrts  the  capture  of  the  garrU 
son,  than  shewhig  themselves  before  it. 

Not  only  the  heroes  of  Brownstown,  but  the  detach"* 
ments  then  absent  from  the  fort,  'S.^9  volunteers  and  all  tht 
provisions  at    Raisin,   and   those  of  no  inconsiderable 
amount,  the  fortified  posts  and  garrisons,  and  the  whole 
territory  and  inhabitants  of  MicMgan,  were  delivered  over 
by  capitulation,  to  the  commanding  general  of  the  British 
forces.     Forty  barrels  of  powder,   two  thousand  five 
hundred  stand  of  arms,  and  an  armament,  (consisting  of 
twenty-five  iron,  and  eight  brass  pieces  of  ordnance)  the 
greater  part  of  which  had  been  captured  from  the  British 
in  the  revolutionary  war,  were  surrendered  with  them. 
The  detachment  which  had  been  sent  out  under  colonels 
Cass  and  M'Arthur,  had  received  orders  the  night  before 
to  return  ;  but  when  they  arrived  within  si^t  of  Detroit, 
before  which  the  enemy  was  already  stationed,  it  became 
necessary  to  use  excessive  caution  in  their  nearer  ap- 
pr  >ach.    They  were  accidentally  thrown  into  a  situation, 
the  best  for  annoying  and  cutting  off  the  retreat  of  the  en- 
emy, which  could  possibly  be  selected  ;   and  if  they 
had  heanl  any  firing,  or  had  seen  any  indication  of  an 
engagement,  they  might  have  attacked  the  rear  of  the 
column,   enf,  placed  the  enemy's  raw  troops,  between 
thefr  own  fire,  and  that  of  the  fort.     They  could  not  ima- 
gine what  measures  were  in  operation,  when  an  uninter- 
rupted silence  prevailed  between  two  hostile  armies,  with- 
in fiejhtlng  distance  of  each  other  ;  the  arrangement  for  a 
surrender,  was  the  last  among  their  Surmises,  because  they 
knew  that  the  garrison  was  superior  to  any  force  which 
could  tlien  be  brought  against  it.     Their  doubts  were  re- 
li(  ved  by  a  message  from  general  Hull,  to  the  following 
effect :    "  1  have  signed  articles  of  capitulation  for  the 
"  surrender  of  this  garrison,  in  which  you  and  your  de- 
"  tachment  are  prisoners  of  war.     Such  part  of  the  Ohio 
«*  militia  as  have  not  joined  the  army,  will -he  permitted 
"  to  return  to  their  homes,  on  condition  that  they  will  not 
"  serve  during  the  !var.     Their  arms,  however,  will  be 
"  given  up,  if  belonging  to  the  publick."    This  despatch 
was  forwarded  by  colonel  M'Arthur,  to  captain  Brush, 
The  volunteers  and  militia  returned  to  their  respective 
siOnies  j  vui  general  iiuii^  aim  ilte  fourth  regiment,  and 
part  of  the  first,  were  taken  to  Montreal,  whence  they 


i' 


i 


e  of  the  gani^ 

it  the  detach- 
ers aud  all  tht 
Dconsiderable 
ad  the  whol« 
lellvered  over 
of  the  Britioh 
housand  five 
(consisting  of 
jrduance)  the 
m  the  British 
d  with  them, 
nder  colonels 
B  night  before 
fat  of  Detroit, 
ed,  it  became 
sir  nearer  ap- 
to  a  situation, 
eat  of  the  en- 

and  if  they 
lication  of  aa 
e  rear  of  the 
3p9,  between 
ould  not  ima- 
a  an  uninter- 
armies,  with- 
gement  for  a 
because  thej 

force  which 
ibts  were  re- 
he  following 
Eition  for  the 
and  your  de- 

ofthe  Ohio 
be  permitted 
they  will  not 
ver,  will  be 
'his  despatch 
ptain  Bru^b. 
ir  respective 
giment,  and 


S3* 

were  destined  for  Quebec.  General  Brork  issued  hn 
proclHinalion,  announcing  to  the  Inhabitantfs  of  Michigan, 
the  ccHBion  of  that  territory  to  the  aims  of  hit  Brilannick 
Majesty,  and  eslabliwhing  regulations  for  its  civil  govern- 
ment. The  capitulation  of  an  immense  territory,  and 
the  surrender  of  the  whole  north-western  army,  which 
was  composed  of  men,  feelingly  aKve  to  the  honour  of 
their  country,  ambitious  of  distinguishing  themselves  in 
arms,  and  most  of  whom  had  left  their  families,  and  their 
friends,  to  encounter  the  fatigues  and  dangers  of  a  long 
campaign,  excited  a  sensation  among  the  people,  from 
one  extremity  of  the  country  to  the  other,  not  less  indig- 
nant, than  that  which  was  felt  by  the  troops  themselves. 
When  general  Brock  said,  that  the  force  at  his  disposal  au- 
thosised  him  to  require  the  surrender,  he  must  have  had 
a  very  exalted  opinion,  of  the  prowess  of  his  own  soldiers, 
or  a  very  mistaken  one,  of  the  ability  of  those  which  were 
commanded  by  the  American  generH.  The  force  at  his 
disposal  was  inferior  to  the  garrison  of  Detroit,  even  in 
the  absence  of  the  detachments.  .  In  a  letter  to  sir  George 
PrevoBt,  he  states  the  American  force  at  two  thousand 
Ave  hundred— which  however  could  not  be  correct,  as  it 
had  met  with  losses  in  the  different  8i.i,mi8he9--and 
his  own  at  six  hundred  white  troops,  and  six  hundred  In- 
dians. By  the  return  of  his  quarter- master  general,  it 
consisted  of, 

Britj-ih  regulars,  infantry  and  artillery      ....      362 
Indians,  principally  Chipaways,  Hurons  and  > 

Putawatamies                            I      '        ^^^ 
Militia,  in  regular  uniforms     . ggg 


Total, 


1394 


Of  these,  few  of  the  Indians  were  visible,  as  they  gene- 
rally skulked  in  the  woods,  and  did  not  advance  upon  the 
fort  with  the  British  column.  The  force  of  general  Huirs 
army,  by  the  morning  report,  was  one  thousand  and  six- 
ty, exclusive  of  the  detachment  of  three  hundred  and 
fifty  men,  and  three  hundred  Michigan  militia,  then  out  on 
duty,  which  would  have  made  seventeen  hundred  and 
ten  ;  superior  to  the  enemy  by  three  hundred  and  sixteen. 
\m  iue  anivai  wf  captain  Brush  from  Itaisin,  his  total  force 


./• 


94 


would  have  amounted  to  more  than  ei^teen  hundred  and 
sixty. 

Had  the  troops  remained  at  Sandwich  until  the  provi^ 
sions  were  brought  on,  the  surrender  of  this  force  to  a  body 
of  troops  inferior  in  quality  as  well  as  number,  would  have 
been  prevented.  The  British  did  not  appear  at  that  place 
until  they  had  heard  of  its  evacuation,  they  were  induced  to 
follow  up  the  American  army,  because  of  its  abrupt  depar- 
ture from  the  Canadian  shore,  and  it  has  been  matter  of 
conjecture,  whether  general  Hull's  conduct  Was  the  result 
of  cowardice,  mental  imbecility  and  moral  depravity,  or 
corrupt  perfidy.  In  his  official  despatches  to  the  govern- 
ment he  accounted  for  it  by  saying,  "the  surrender  of 
"  Micbilimackinac  opened  the  northern  hive  of  Indians, 
"  and  they  were  swarming  down  in  every  direction.  Re- 
^*  inforcements  from  Niagara  had  arrived  at  Amhertsburg 
"  under  the  command  of  colonel  Proctor.  The  desertion 
"  of  the  militia  ceased.  Besides  the  reinforcements  that 
"  came  by  waiter  I  received  information  of  a  very  con- 
*^  siderable  force  under  the  command  of  major  Chambers, 
"  on  the  river  Le  Tranche,  with  four  field  pieces,  and  col- 
lecting the  militia  on  his  route,  evidently  destined  for 
Amherstburg,  and  in  addition  to  this  combination  and 
increase  of  force,  contrary  to  all  expectations  the  Wy- 
"  andots,Chippewa9  and  other  tribes  with  whom  I  had  the 
"  most  friendly  intercourse  at  once  passed  over  to  Amherst- 
"  burg  and  accepted  the  tom-hawk  and  scalping  knife. 
"  There  being  now  a  vast  number  of  Indians  at  the  British 
"  post,  they  were  sent  to  the  river  Huron,  Brownstown,  and 
Maguaga,  to  intercept  my  communication. 
"  Under  this  sudden  and  unexpected  change  of  things, 
and  having  received  an  express  from  general  Hall  com- 
manding opposite  the  British  shore  on  the  Niagara  river, 
by  which  it  appeared  that  there  was  no  prospect  of  any  co- 
operation from  that  quarter,  and  the  two  senior  officers  of 
the  artillery  having  stated  to  me  an  opinion  that  it  would 
be  extremely  difficult  if  not  impossible  to  pass  the  Tur- 
key rivei  and  the  river  Aux  Canards  with  24  pounders, 
and  that  they  would  not  be  transported  by  water,  as  the 
Queen  Charlotte,  which  carries  eighteen  24  pounders, 

**  lav  in  ilio  wiirnn  TftAfi      •■      -  -  - 


U 


(( 


« 


« 


(( 


"  Canards,  and  as  it  appeared  indispensably  necessary  to 
"  open  the  communication  to  the  river  Raisin  and  the 


2S 


iVcf  illiA 


"  Miami,  I  found  myself  compelled  to  suspend  the  apen- 
•*  tion  against  Amhertsburg  and  concentrate  the  main  force 
"  of  the  army  at  Detroit,  fully  intending  at  that  time  after 
the  communication  was  opened,  to  re-cross  the  river 
and  pursue  the  object  at  Amhertsburg,  and  strongly  de- 
!  !rVl**l5°"^""'"S  protection  to  a  very  large  number  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Upper  Canada  who  had  voluntarily 
accepted  it  under  my  proclamation ;  I  established  a  for 
tress  on  the  banks  of  the  river  a  little  below  Detroit  cal- 
«*  culated  for  a  garrison  of  300  men.     On  the  evening  of 
the  7th  and  morning  of  the  8th  instant,  the  army,  ex<Spt- 
ing  the  garnson  of  250  infantry  and  a  corps  of  artillerists 
all  under  the  command  of  major  Denny  of  the  Ohio  vo- 
lunteers, re-crossed  the  river  a»id  encamped  at  Detroit." 
But  the  greater  part  of  the  statement,  contained  in  his 
despatches,  was  contradicted  by  his  officers  of  the  highest 
grades,  and  particularly  that  in  which,  after  describing  the 
approach  of  the  enemy,  lie  continued— 

<c  I'^fi"'!^  ^®'S"^  "iecessary  either  to  fight  the  enemy  in 
the  field ;  collect  the  whole  force  in  the  fort ;  or  propose 
terms  of  capitulation.    I  could  not  have  carried  into  the 

«  fif  rT'^rl?."  ^^^  ™^"'  »"^  '^^^  «ny  adequare  force  in 
the  fort.  There  were  landed  at  that  time  of  the  enemy 
a  regular  force  of  much  more  than  that  number,  «nd 
twice  the  number  of  Indians.  Conaidering  this  great  in- 
equahty  of  force  I  did  not  think  it  expedient  to  adopt  the 
first  measure.  The  second  must  have  been  attended 
with  a  great  sacnfice  of  blood,  and  no  possible  advan- 
tage,  because  the  contest  could  not  have  been  sustained 
more  than  aday  for  the  want  of  powder,  and  but  a  very 
few  days  for  the  want  of  provisions.  In  addition  to  this 
colonels  M'Arthur  and  Cass  would  have  been  in  a  mo  ? 

^^  hazardous  situation.  I  feared  nothing  but  the  last  alter- 
native.    »  have  dared  to  adopt  it.   I  well  know  the  high 

«  Tn  myself."^  "'^^'"'^'  ^"'* '  ^^^  "^^  ^^^«*«  ^^'^ 

nn^i^l^^  *"?"*  ^^®  government  were  not  satisfied: 
^H  Jfl  .^  ';ourt.martial  before  whom,  on  being exchangl 
ed  for  thirty  British  prisoners,  he  was  tried.  ^ 

miflfJ  ^^>»!?tigation  of  all  the  facts,  that  court  declined 
ir«.«/i  ^  "."^;""v""  y"  "»*-•  ^iiuT^e  ui  iieason,  which  was  al- 
leged against  him  butsaid  that  they  did  not  believe,  from 
any  thing  which  had  come  before  them,  that  he  had  bTe^ 


■,j    I 


"Si" 


26 

guilty  of  that  act.  On  the  second  charge,  for  cowardice 

and  the  third,  for  neglect  of  duty  and  unoflicerlike  conduct, 
they  condemned  him.  A  sentence  of  death  was  passed 
upon  liim,  iMit  in  consideration  of  Iiis  revolutionary  ser-\ 
vices  and  his  advanced  age,  he  was  earnestly  recommend- 
ed to  the  mercy  of  the  President,  who  remitted  the  sen- 
tence, but  directed  a  general  order  to  be  issued,  by  which 
his  name  was  struck  from  the  rolls  of  the  army. 

Could  that  genius  and  enterprise,  which  distinguished 
the  other  officers  of  the  north  western  army,  have  been 
imparted  to  its  commander,  a  more  glorious  issue  to  the 
American  arras,  must  have  been  the  necessary  result.  The 
conduct  of  the  several  detachments,  and  the  ample  success 
of  each  excursion,  gave  an  almost  incontestible  proof,  that 
a  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  warfare,  would  have  obtained 
complete  victory.  Had  the  effect  of  these  successes  been 
followed  up  by  a  rapid  movement  of  the  army  itself,  and 
proper  advantages  been  taken  of  the  desertions  from  the 
enemy's  garrison,  the  whole  country  would  have  been 
subjugated,  or  laid  open  to  future  expeditions,  and  the  ob- 
ject of  the  present,  would  doubtless  have  been  achieved. 
Weakness  and  imbecility,  however,  supplied  the  place  of 
military  talent,  and  the  result  was  different  from  that,  which 
was  looked  to,  by  the  army  and  the  nation. 


cowardice — 
like  conduct, 
I  was  passed 
Litionary  ser- 
recommend- 
tted  the  sen- 
jd,  by  which 

listinguished 
,  have  been 
issue  to  the 
T  result.  The 
nple  success 
le  proof,  that 
ave  obtained 
jcesses  been 
ly  itself,  and 
>ns  from  the 
1  have  been 
and  the  ob- 
en  achieved, 
the  place  of 
1  that,  which 


^ 


V*St 


I 


XT' 


*r 


o'.  Stti€iit  niu.-: 


mi^' 


ISAAC      HlTI.1.  Es^Q^ 


:*. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Disposition  of  the  Naval  Forces — Escape  of  the  Constiivr 
Hon — Letters  of  Marque  and  Reprisals-^tlas  engages 
two  armed  ships — Essex  captwes  the  Alert — Engage- 
nunt  between  the  ConstUution  mid  Oiierriere—'PursiUi* 
of  the  Belvidere — An  engagement  on  the  St.  Lawrence — 
Capture  of  the  British  Brigs  Detroit  and  Caledmiia,  <m 
Lcdce  Erie — Wa^p  captures  the  Frolick — Both  taken  by 
the  Poieiiers — Loss  of  the  U.  S,  Schooners  NautUrn  and 
Vixen. 

COTEMPORANEOUS  with  the  disaster  at  De- 
troit, was  a  succession  of  brilliant  achievements  on  the 
ocean,  paralleled  perhaps,  but  never  yet  surpassed  ;  the 
intelligence  of  which  entirely-  dispelled  the  temporary 
gloom,  which  pervaded  the  minds,  and  filled  with  grief, 
the  hearts  of  the  American  people.    At  the  commence- 
ment of  hostilities,  such  of  the  United  Stales  vessels  of 
war,  whose  equipments  were  entire,  had  orders  to  proceed 
immediately  to  sea.    A  squadron  of  thcee  frigates,  one 
brig,  and' one  sloop  of  war,  sailed  on  the  twenty-first  of 
June  from  New-York,  in  ques    of  several  of  the  enemy's 
frigates,  known  to  be  at  that  time  cruising  off  the  entrance 
to  that  harbour.    On  the  third  of  July,  the  frigate  Essex, 
captain  Jporter,  went  to  sea  from  the  same  port ;  and  the 
Xonstiiufion,  captain  Hull,  sailed  horn  the  Phesapeake 
"^ay  on  the  twelfth.    The  brigs  Na^lus,  Viper,  and  Vixen, 
were  at  the  same  time  cruising  off  the  coast ;  and  the 
£loop  of  war  Wasp  was  at  sea,  on  her  return  from  France. 
On  the  morning  of  the  17th,  an  English  squadron,  con- 
sisting of  the   Afnca,  a  ship  of  the  line,  the  frigates 
Shannon^  Gmiriere^  Belvidere  and  Molus^  and  a  brig  and 
schooner^  the  nearest  of  the  frigates  being  within  gun- 
shot, gaye  chase  to  the  Constitution.    A  calm  prevailing 
during  the  whole  day,  towing  ard  warpmg  were  unremit- 
tingly resorted  to ;  but  the  enemy,  by  attaching  all  the 
boats  of  the  squadron  to  two  of  the  frigates,  were  gaining 
BO  much  upon  the  ConstituUon.  as  to  brine  thek-  bow 
guns  to  bear  upon  her,  though  they  received  several  (Us- 
charges  from  hei  stern  chasers.    Tiie  chaee  continued  all 


w 


D 


,  ff-iff 


28 


^  -  'f5' 


^11 


g       V, 


night.  On  the  following  morning,  (I8th)  at  daylight,  the 
ConsUtution,  taking  advantage  of  a  fresh  breeze  which 
just  then  sprang  up,  spread  all  her  canvas,  outsailed,  and 
escaped  from  her  pursuers,  and  arrived  at  Boston  on  the 
evening  of  the  26th~whence  she  sailed  upon  a  cruise 
pn  the  second  of  August.  The  chase  continued  for  sixty 
hours ;  the  ship's  crew  were  all  that  time  at  their  stations ; 
and  the  escape  of  the  frigate  from  seven  sail,  two  of 
which,  were  warped  up  by  more  than  six  times  the  num- 
ber of  men  and  boats  employed  by  the  Constitution,  hns 
been  considered  as  an  incontestible  proof,  ^  superior 

skill  and  seamanship  of  her  commander,  .  officers 

of  the  pursuing  ships,  one  of  whom  was  aticrwards  cap- 
tured by  captain  Hull,  have  spoken  of  it  in  terms  of  the 
highest  admiration. 

Congress  having  authorized  the  president  to  issue  let- 
ters of  marque  and  reprisals,  the  ocean  was  very  soon 
covered  with  private  armed  ships,  from  almost  every  port 
in  the  United  States.  One  of  the  first  which  sailed,  was 
the  schooner  Atlas,  commanded  by  captain  David  Mof- 
fet;  who,  on  the  third  of  August,  fell  in  with  two  armed 
ships  of  the  enemy,  and  at  eleven  A.  M.  engaged  them 
both.  The  action  commenced  by  a  broadside  of  mus- 
quetry^om  the  Atlas,  and  was  continued  without  inter- 
mission until  noon,  when  one  of  the  enemy's  ships  struck 
her  colours.  The  whole  fire  of  the  Atlas  was  then 
brought  against  the  largest  ship,  when  that  whjteh  had  al- 
ready struck,  again  opened  her  broadside.  A  few  shot 
from  the  Atlas,  ho\«^ver,  drove  every  man  from  her 
decks,  and  compellelfher  a  second  time  to  yield.  At 
twenty  minutes  P.  M.  the  largest  ship  struck  also,  nd  on 
taking  possession  of  them,  captain  Moffet  found  t,  m  to 
be,  the  ship  Pursuit,  of  450  tons,  sixteen  guns,  18's  and 
9*8,  and  thirty-five  men  ;  and  the  ship  Planter,  of  twelve 
guns,  12  pounders,  and  fifteen  men.  During  the  action, 
the  Atlas  was  very  much  disabled  in  her  rigging,  and  had 
two  men  killed  and  five  wounded.  Among  th^  latter,  a 
seaman  of  the  name  of  William  Curi,  who  behaved  with 
great  coohiess,  and  refused  to  quit  his  quarters,  though  he 
had  received  a  wound,  which  afterwards  proved  to  be  mor- 
tal. The  three  vessels  were  making  a  port,  when  a  British 
frigate  hove  in  sight,  and  recaptured  the  Planter  i  but  the 
Atlas,  and  her  largest  prize,  arrived  safely  in  the  Delaware. 


«K 


■*-*■,-, 


■# 


89 


lo  issue  let- 


pr  •  hiif  ihtk 


On  the  thirteenth  of  August  the  frigate  Essex,  whicil 
had  now  been  cruising  forty  days,  fell  in  with  the  Brit- 
ish sloop  of  war  Alert,  captain  T.  L.  P.  Laughame,  of 
twenty  guns,  and  one  hundred  and  thirty  men  ;  who  im- 
mediately ran  down  upon  the  frigate's  weather  quarter, 
gave  three  cheers,  commenced  an  action,  and  after  eight 
minutes'  firing,  struck  her  colours,  withseyen  feet  water 
in  her  hold,  her  hull  cut  to  pieces,  and  three  of  her  men 
wounded.  The  officers  and  crew  of  the  Essex,  which  re- 
ceived not  the  slightest  injury,  were  highly  amused  at  the 
boldness  of  the  enemy,  who  must  have  calculated  on  an 
easy  conquest  over  the  American  frigate.  A  few  broad- 
sides, however,  deliberately  flred  into  the  sloop  of  war, 
brought  down  her  colours  ;  and  after  concluding  an  ar- 
rangement with  captain  Laughame  to  that  effect,  captain 
Porter  dismantled  her  of  her  armament,  and  putting  all 
his  prisoners,  being  about  five  hundred,  on  board,  sent 
her,  under  the  command  of  one  of  his  officers,  lieutenant 
J.  P.  Wilmer,  as  a  cartel  to  St.  Johns,  in  Newfoundland; 
whence  she  was  instructed  to  sail  for  New-York,  with 
whatever  American  prisoners  might  be  given  in  exchange. 

About  seventeen  days  after,  late  in  the  afternoon  of  the 
30th,  captain  Porter  discovered,  and  stood,  under  an  easy 
sail,  for  one  of  the  enemy's  frigates,  which  vms  at  the 
same  time  standing  for  him.  The  Essex  was  c!eared, 
and  the  crew  anxious  for  an  engagement.  Being  appre- 
hensive that  the  enemy  might  not  find  him  in  the  night, 
captain  Porter  hoisted  a  light  at  the  mast  head,  and  at  mne 
o'clock  discovered  a  signal  of  two  flashes  and  a  blue 
light,  at  about  four  miles  distance.  The  Essex  stood  on, 
for  the  point  at  which  this  signal  was  given,  until  mid- 
night ;  but  not  getting  a  sight  of  the  enemy,  she  hove  to, 
under  an  expectation  that  the  hostile  ship  would  do  the 
same,  until  morning.  To  the  great  surprise  of  captain 
Porter,  and  the  mortification  of  his  crew,  at  daylight  the 
enemy  was  not  to  be  secii. 

On  the  fourth  of  September,  in  attempting  to  get  int6 
New- York,  the  Essex  was  intercepted  and  chased  by  two 
large  ships  of  war,  who  gair  1  her  wake  and  came  u» 
With  great  fleetness ;  but  she  escaped  from  them  by  ma- 
noeuvremg  in  the  night,  having  first  hoisted  American 
coioui's,  and  fired  a  gun  to  windward.  One  of  the  ships 
hemg  considerably  to  windward  of  the  other,  and  about 


I 


i\  I 


?h 


!     ■  'i.t 


'I!- 


SO 

frre  miles  astern  of  the  Essex,  it  was  determined  to  heaTe 
about  iw  soott  as  it  became  dark ;  and  in  the  event  of  not 
bemg  able  to  pass,  to  fire  a  broadside  into  her,  and  lay 
her  on  board.  The  wind  heading  the  Essex  off,  however 
at  thirty  mmutes  i^er  eight  she  bore  away,  ind  beinjJ 
cut  off  from  New-York,  effected  her  escape  into  the  bay 
of  Delaware,  where  sh^^  arrived  on  the  seventh,  without 

In  tJ!"'!?^*  "!Sr"I'r"*S  ™«^niB«  captures  in  addition 
to  the  Alert.  The  Alert  retorned  from  St.  Johns,  and  ar- 
nved  at  New-York  on  the  sixteenth  of  September,  with 
two  hundred  and  seventy  American  prisoners. 

On  the  28th  August,  the  Constitution  returned  to  Bos- 
ton, from  a  cruise  commenced  upon  the  second  of  that 
month  and  signahzed  by  a  brilliant  and  victorious  con« 
test  with  a  Bntish  ship  of  war,  the  commander  of  which 
had  repeated V  threatened  the  capture  of  any  one  of  the 
Amencanfogates,  whom  it  might  be  his  fortune  to  en- 
counter.    The  frigate  Gueniere  had  been  sailing  off  the 
coast,  for  several  months  previous  to  the  declaration  of 
r"i  *°?L'**^  frequently  shewn  herself  at  the  entrances 
to  the  different  ports,  with  her  name  written  in  large 
characters  upon  a  flag  at  one  of  her  mast  heads,  and  at 
another  the  words  *'not  the  LUtle  5c//"— in  aUusion  to 
an  affau-  which  had  taken  place  between  a  stoop  of  war 
of  that  name,  and  the  United  States  frigate  President;  in 
wbich  the  latter  ship  retorted  an  assault  committed  on 
her,  m  tune  of  peace,  by  discharging  two  broadsides  at 
and  nearly  sinking  the  stoop  of  war.*  Captain  Hull  had 
been  informed  of  the  appearance  of  a  single  ship  of  war 
to  the  eastward  of  the  coast,  and  immediately  stood  iij 
that  direction.    Between  the  second  and  the  nineteenth  of 

•  On  the  16th  May,  the  Little  Belt,  commanded  by  captain 
Bingham,  and  mounting  18  guns,  was  hailed  by  the  President, 
to  know  what  ship  she  was.  The  captain  of  the  Little  Belt  re- 
peated  the  question,  without  answering  it ;  and  commodore 
Rodgers  agaui  asked,  "  What  ship  is  that  .»•»  This  demand  was 
followed  by  a  shot ,  from  the  Little  Belt.  The  President  re- 
turned It,  and  received  a  broadside  from  her.  Commodore 
Rodgers  then  gave  a  general  order  to  fire  ;  and  having  silenced 
the  other,  agam  mquired  what  ship  she  was.  He  now  received 
an  answer  which  informed  him  of  the  character  of  the  vessel  ; 
and  he^ay^to,  in  order  to  assist  her^  in  repairing  her  damages. 
yox  a  paiticuiar  accouat  of  ibis  aiiair,  see  Clark's  IN  aval  iii&. 
toty  of  the  Umted  States.) 


#' 


"t> 


31 


ned  to  Bo8- 
:ond  of  that 
orious  con- 
icr  of  which' 
one  of  the 
tune  to  en- 
ling  off  the 
slaration  of 
e  entrances 
m  in  large 
ids,  and  at 
allusion  to 
Dop  of  war 
resident;  in 
imilted  on 
adeides  at^ 
in  Hull  had 
Mp  of  war, 
y  stood  in 
Qete^nth  ef 

i  by  captain 
i  President^ 
:tle  Belt  re. 
commodore 
[emand  was 
fesident  re- 
[^ommodore 
ing  silenced 
>w  received 
the  vessel  ; 
\r  damages. 
iNavai  Jdus^ 


August,  he  made  several  captures  of  merchantmen,  ftn^ 
recaptured  an  Americai  brig,  which  had  been  W^V^  by 
the  Avenger,  On  that  day,  in  lat.  41  deg.  42  mi^N.  and 
long.  5  5  deg.  SSniin.  W.he  discovered  a  large  frigate  of  the 
enemy,  set  all  sail  in  chase,  and  came  up  with,  and  captured 
her,  after  a  spirited  "engagement  of  forty -five  minutes. 
She  proved  to  be  the  frigate  Gu^riere,  of  38  guns,  but 
carrying  49,  a^d  commanded  by  captain  James  R.  Dacres. 
She  was  discovered  a^  about  two  P.  M.  and  at  four,  the 
Constitution  was  closing  fast  upon  her.  At  ten  minutes 
past  four,  the  enemy  hoisted  English  colours,  and  com- 
menced the  actioil  by  firing  several  guns.  The  Consti- 
tution's fire  w«||  reserved,  until  she  could  be  put  in  such 
a(|||0siti«iis  that  every  shot  should  take  effect ;  and  the 
fiaRmH^naster,  Aylwin,  brought  her  soslcilfully  into  action, 
that  captain  Hull's  views  were  completely  accomplish- 
ed. But  the  enemy  not  comprehending  them,  suspect- 
ed the  Amer'cans  of  timidity,  or  of  ignorance  in  the  a|t 
of  gui^ry,  and  discharged  his  broadsides  with  an  assu- 
rance of  crippling  his  antagonist,  before  he  might  opea 
his  battery.  The  crew  of  the  Constitution  uixiously 
awaiting  the  orders  of  their  commander  to  fire  on  the  foe, 
were  themselves  filled  with  surprise  at  his  receiving  sa 
many  rounds,  without  yet  returning  them.  Captain  Hull, 
at  his  station  however,  was  with  great  judgment  recon- 
ni^tringthe  enemy  with  his  glass  ;  until  finding  that  the 
ifeility  and  excellent  seamanship  of  his  sailing-master,, 
itt'ought  up  the  ship  to  the  exact  station  upon  the  ene- 
my's beam,  from  which  he  knew  he  could  effectually  an- 
?<itf»oy  him,  he  issned  his  orders  to  fire  broadside  after 
^broadside,  with  the  greatest  possible  rapidity.  His  crew 
now  perfectly  entering  into  a  plan,  which  none  but  an 
abl^eaman  could  have  conceived,  executed  bis  com- 
il^iands  with  as  mueh  alacrity  as  was  required;  and  after 
1^een  minutes  close  and  constant  cannonading,  the  ene- 
my's mizen  mast  haviag  gone  over  his  starboard  quarter^ 
the  Constitutien  was  fdaced  upon  his  larboard  bow,  in  a 
raking  position ;  from  which  she  swept  the  decks  of  the 
Guerri^  with  grap«  and  musquetry.  The  enemy's 
ship  became  now  unmana(;eaWe,  and  the  Constitution 
prepared  to  lay  her  on  boanl.  Lieutenant  Bush  attempt- 
«;u  to  tfimw  his  marines  on  iier  deck,  wUen  he  was  killed 
by  ft  mc  ^pKlbeUi  iH»d  tlie  Guernere,  at 


(■'-* 


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sftmepe- 


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32 


I II! 


ii 


1  Mill 

1  liii 


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men^getting  clear  of  the  Constitution,  shot  ahead  ;  but 
It  bd||.nipo88ible  to  get  her  before  the  wind,  she  was 
cxpdW  to  every  raking  fire  of  her  opponent.  Her  fore 
and  main  magts  went  over  the  side ;  her  hull  was  cut  a^ 
most  to  pieces ;  and  at  twenty  minutes  paat  five,  she  gur- 
i^^fldered.  The  execution  of  the  Constitution's  fire  ww 
dreadfully  severe;  and  the  management  of  the  vessel  re- 
flected great  credit  on  her  officer.  Her  Io^b  was  but  sev- 
*?  *"? nk*"?  *®''®"  wounded.  The  Gueifere's  loss  was 
wa'Jds  ofV"  wounded  62,  in  killed  and  missing  uj^ 

The  Constitution  had  some  spars,  and  nrnch  of  her  rig- 
ging, shot  away ;  after  repairing  which,  andgetting  out  the 
prisoners,  she  set  fire  to,  and  blew  up  theO^rriere,  wMih 
was  in  so  sinkinga  condition  that  she  could  not  be  b^mi 
into  port.    Captain  Hull  spoke  in  high  terms  of  the  crew, 

ffrom  the  smallest  boy  in  the  ship  to  the  oldest  seaman! 
le  officers  behaved  with  great  gallantrv  Tho&braae 
d  amiable  lieutenant  William  Bush,  ihe'firsi  naval  * 
cer  who  fell  m  this  war,  distinguished  himself  by  Jtitrepidly 
leading  or  the  boarders^  when  he  received  the  ball  which 
depnved  his  country  of  his  serv'.ces.  Mr.  Aylwin,  who 
manoeuvred  the  ship,  so  well  thioughout  the  battle,  was 
severely  wounded  ;  and  on  his  return  to  port,  was  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  a  licii£<  nant.  The  first  officer,  lieu- 
tenant Morns,  was  dangerously  wounded  :  his  con%ct 
procured  for  him  the  applause  of  the  government,  an^ 
promotion  to  th^  rank  of  a  post  capcain.  Captain  Hiill 
was  received  wm  a  degree  of  joy  bordering  on  enthusi-^ 
asm,  by  the  citizens  of  every  town  through  which  ha 
passed,  on  his  way  to  the  Navy  Dt-partmeot.  Many  m 
the  state  legislatuws  voted  him  their  thanks  and  a  mord; 
tte  freedom  of  several  cities  was  presented  to  hi£|aQ^ 
bt  a  gold  box ;  and  the  people  of  Ch^irlestown  and^lh^ 
delphia  subscribed  for  the  purchase  of  two  elegantiec^S 
plate.  The  congress  of  ti  «  United  States  voted  ^,^ 
kis  officers  and  crew,  ther  thanks~-and  the  sum  of  fifty 
thousand  dollars. 

The  Guerriere,  was  one  of  the  finest,  and  lattest  claag 
^f  frigates  in  the  British  navy ;  a  fact  which  is  certified  'm 
a  letter  to  lord  Keith  from  a  British  officer,  captain  Thojn# 
Lavie,of  the  frigate  Blanche — in  which  sl»n  on  fhe.  loth 
<rf  July,  ^|P6,  oflf  the  Faro  Islands,  after  a  contest  of  tiw 


■  i    ,> 


8»me  length  (45  rainutea)  he  captured  the  French  frigate 
Le  Guerriere,  commanded  by  Monsieur  Hubert  of  Ole  le- 
gion of  honor.  His  letter  states,  «  Le  Guerriere  is  of  the 
largest  cloM  of/ngates,  mounting  Jijly  gunsy  ivith  acon> 
plement  of  317  jnen.'* 

The  squadron  which  had  sailed  on  the  Slat  June,  under 
the  .command  of  commodore  Rodgera,  and  w.ilch  con- 
sisted of  the  President,  of  4^   guns,  (liag  ship)   United 
^tates,  44,  captain  Decatur  ;  Congress,  36,  captain  John 
SMiTd  ;  JS^fnet,  16,  lieutenant  commandant  Lawrencb  ; 
and^r^,  16,  lieutenant  commandnnt  Sinclair  ;  return- 
ed from  the  cruise,  and  arrived  in  Boston  harbour  on  the 
31st  August,  with  about  120  English  prisoners  on  beard; 
having  been  out  sevent>-two  clays.     These  vessels  had 
been  off  the  English  channel,  along  the  coast  of  France, 
Spain,  aiKl  Portugal,  within  30  miles  of  the  Rock  of  Lis- 
bon ;  thence  to  Madeira  Island ;  thence  off  Coro  and  Flores ; 
and  thence  back  to  the  Banks,  and  by  Nova  Scotia  to 
Boston.    Ihey  were,  most  of  this  time,  in  search  of  the 
Jamaica  4Ieet ;  though  on  the  third  day  out,  theif  attention 
was  diverted,  by  the  appearance  of  a  large  sail,  vrhich 
was  afterwards  known  to  be  the  British  frigate  Belvidere 
captain  B.  Byron,  and  to  which  they  gave  chase.     The 
President  being  a  superior  sailer  to  the  rest  of  the  squad- 
ron, was  brought  within  gun  shot  of  the  enemy     The 
breeze  mclining  to  the  westward  and  becoming  liehter 
however,  the  Belvic^^re  had  the  advantage  '  ettP  M 
ahfe  hoisted  English  colours.    At  four,  the  ^nd  having 
changed,  so  that  the  two  vessels  sailed  nearly  alike,  con^ 
modore  Rodgers  determined  to  tire  his  bow  chase  guns  at 
the  nggmg  and  spars,  in  the  espectatJon  of  crippline  tike 
enemy,  so  that  her  escape  wouldbe  prevented,  or  at  least 
Uial  ihe  President  might  be  enabled  to  come  up     The 
firb  was  returned  from  the  enemy's  stern  gi,g|s,  and  wa« 
kept  up  on  both  sides  until  thirty  minutes  pSfour,  wh^ 
one  of  the  President's  chase  guns  bursted,  killed  a^S 

rrSwhf  f  *?^°  i:^«»g  the  latter  the  commodore; 
2g  i>y  the  explosion  of  J|«  passing-box,  from  which  thl 
A  was  served  with  po^^,  both  the  main  and  foreca? 
uecKs  m  its  neighborhood  were  much  shattered.  Th* 
fez. 'tl^J^i?  ^*»""?' "."  «•«  ?;-ha'ge  or  Z 


w 


s^ 


fci:'  i 


HI 


TJdcre.  The  President  began  now  to  lose  ground,  bo 
hope  was  left  of  bringing  the  enemy  to  close  acUon,  except 
that  derived  from  being  to  windward,  and  the  probability 
that  (he  breese  might  favour  the  President  firat,  and  the 
commodore  ordered  her  to  be  steered  close  after  him,  and 
the  bow  chase  guns  to  be  kept  playing  on  his  spars,  rig- 
ging and  stern.  At  fire,  the  enemy's  stem  guns  annoyed 
tlie  President  so  much,  that  the  commodore  determined 
on  another  broadside,  whi«h  being  discharged,  was  found 
to  have  wounded  the  fore  topsail  yard  of  the  Belvidere;  af- 
ter this,  the  pursuit  was  kept  up  until  U  P.  M.  The  Pre- 
sident gave  two  more  broadsiiles,  but  the  Belvidere  having 
stove  and  threw  overboard  her  boats,  and  every  thing 
which  could  be  possibly  spared ;  and  having  out  away  her 
anchors  and  started  about  fourteen  tons  of  water,  outsailed 
the  squadron  and  effected  her  escape.  Six  men  were  kil- 
led and  wounded  by  the  Belvidere's  fire,  and  sixteen  by  the 
accident  on  boanl  the  President,  making  in  all  twenty  two, 
among  whom,  beside  the  commodore,  were  five  midship- 
men, one  lieutenant  of  marines,  and  one  Ueutenant  of  the 
ship. 

While  these  events  were  transpiring  on  the  ocean, 
several  naval  affairs  took  place  upon  the  lakes,  more 
inferior  in  their  magnitude,  than  in  the  heroism  of  the 
persons  concerned  in  them.  On  the  30th  of  July,  the  brig 
Julia  of  one  32  pounder,  and  two  6's,  was  fitted  out  at 
Sackctts  Harbour,  with  orders  to  proceed  to  Ogdensburg. 
On  the  31st,  upon  entering  the  St.  Lawrence,  within  sight 
of  Brockville,  ten  miles  from  her  destination,  she  disco- 
vered the  Earl  Moira  of  18  guns,  and  the  Duke  ofGlowxa- 
ier  of  10,  lying  to.  The  Julia  bore  down  within  three 
quarters  of  a  mile  of  them,  and  came  to  action.  At  half 
past  4  P.  M.  the  enemy  opened  their  fire,  and  the  engage- 
ment conti^d  three  hours  and  an  half,  during  which  time, 
numerous  Mempts  Were  made  to  board  the  Julia,  by  th« 
boats  of  the  Tiuke^  but  the  32  pounder  being  well  fought, 
the  enemy  were  obliged  to  relinquish  that  plan.  Both 
yessels  hauled  up  under  theri^d  battery,  and  kept  up  a 
heavy  fire.  At  «  o'clock,  tllllipiia  proceeded  to  OgdHtos- 
burg,  without  the  loss  of  a  man.  The  enemy's  loss  has 
never  been  ascertained.  In  all  the  ^engagement,  thipe 
shot  only  struck  the  hull;  one  went  through  the  jib,  and 
aaoOier  pierced  the  gun  carriage  of  the  Julia.  Her  crew 
were  all  Yoluuteers:  lieuteoant  £1.  Wells  baypg  the  coof- 


*  *v 


kV 


95 


I   the  ocean. 


hiaikT,  Samuel  Dixon  bein^  sailing  master,  uid  eaptaiii 
Benedict  being  on  board  with  a  small  company  of  rifle-> 
men,  acting  au  marines. 

Lieutenant  Jesse  D.  EMiot,  of  the  United  States  navy, 
had  been  ordered  to  the  Niagara  River,  to  superintend  the 
building  of  the  vessels  at  Black  Rock,  for  tlie  service  on 
Lake  Erie.    The  Britlah  brig  Detroit  of  six   6  pound 
long  guns,  formerly  the  United  States  brig  Adams,  which 
had  been  taken  at  the  surrender  of  Detroit,  and  tfie  brig 
Caledonia,  of  two  small  a;un8,  both  well  appointed  and  sup- 
plied with   blunderbusses,  pistolt*,   niuskets,    cutlasses, 
boarding  pikes  and  battle  axes,  came  down  the  lake  and  an- 
chored under  the  protection  of  Port  Erie,  on  the  morning 
of  the  eighth  of  October.    Lieutenant  Elliot  planned  an 
expedition  against  them,  which,  because  there  were  but 
few  seamen  at  the  station,  was  to  be  executed  by  volun- 
teers from  the  army.     This  plan  was  communicated  to 
general  Smyth,  who  immedwtely  agreed  to  supply  the  re- 
gulars, to  man  two  boats  to  attack  and  cut  out  the  enemy's 
vessels.    Several  companies  of  artillery  and  infantry,  who 
arrived  at  the  rock  only  a  few  days  before,  on  hearing  the 
proposal  for  volunteers,  stept  forward  to  a  man,  and  such 
was  the  eagerness  of  all  the  troops,  that  it  became  neces- 
sary to  resort  to  lot.     Fifty  men  only  were  wanted :  lieu- 
tenant Elliot  having  heard  that  the  same  number  of  sea-* 
men  were  at  a  short  distance  from  him,  on  their  route  to 
the  naval  station,  and  who  arrived  at  1^  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  that  day,  and  whom,  though  they  came  off  a 
march  of  five  hundred  miles,  he  determined  should  be  al- 
so of  the  expedition.    At  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the 
selection  was  completed,  and  the  men  stationed  in  two 
boats,  (fifty  in  each)  commanded  by  lieutemant  Elliot,  and 
saiUng  master  Watts.    In  the  same  boat  with  the  former, 
was  lieutenant  Isaac  ftoach,  and  with  the  latter,  captain 
N.  Towson ;  both  of  the  artillery,  and  officers  of  great  me- 
rit, who  ha«l  been  fortunate  enongh  to  draw  the  successful 
lots.     About  three  hours  before  day-light  of  the  following 
monung,  the  boats  put  off  from  the  mouth  of  Buffaloe 
Lreek,  and  in  two  hours  were  alongside  the  vessels. 

In  ten  minutes  the  crews  of  each  were  secured,  the  top- 
sails sheeted  home,  and  the  vessels  under  way.  The 
wind  not  being  aufficiently  stronc'  to  cpt  thf'in  «*"-  s-ai-=* 
a  rapid  current  into  the  Uike^  they  were  obiigpd  to  tua 


36 


ti     .  i 


down  th«  Niagara,  by  the  forts,  under  a  strong  fire  of 
round,  grape,  and  cannister,  from  a  number  of  pieces  of 
benvy  .rdnance  and  flying  artillery.  They  anchored 
within  four  hundred  yards  of  the  enemy's  battery.  The 
officer  commanding  tnese  was  hailed,  and  informed,  that 
if  another  gun  was  fi/ed,  the  prisoners  should  be  brought 
on  deck  and  share  the  fate  which  might  atte^nd  the  Ame- 
rican crew.  This  threat  was  disregarded,  but  the  huma- 
nity of  the  American  officers  prevented  them  from  execu- 
ting it,  though  a  constant  and  destructive  fire  was  kept  up 
from  the  enemy.  The  Caledonia  succeeded  in  getting 
under  the  batteries  of  Black  Rock;  but  the  Detroit  could 
not  be  got  across.  AH  her  guns  were  therefore  placed 
upon  the  side  next  the  enemy,  and  a  fire  directed  against 
the  batteries,  as  long  as  the  ammunition  lasted.  During 
the  contest,  several  attempts  to  waip  her  over  to  the 
American  shore,  were  unsuccessfully  made.  The  fire 
from  the  batteries  was  so  destructive,  that  lieutenaut  El- 
liot, expectiog!  that  she  would  soon  be  sunk  if  she  remain- 
ed in  that  situation,  determined  to  drift  down  the  river  out 
of  their  reach,  and  prefer  making  a  stand  against  the  flying 
artillery.  The  cable  was  accordingly  cut,  and  the  Detroit 
made  sail  with  light  airs,  but  the  pilot  having  abandoned 
her,  she  brought  up  on  the  American  shore,  on  Squaw  Is- 
land. The  boarding  boat  was  immediately  got  ready  and 
sent  with  the  prisoners  to  the  American  side  of  the  river, 
with  directions  to  return  for  lieutenant  Elliot,  and  what- 
ever property  could  be  got  out  of  the  brig;  the  boat  how- 
ever could  not  get  back  to  her.  Lieutenant  Elliot  was, 
therefore,  obliged,  with  lieutenant  Roach  and  four  prison- 
ers, to  make  the  shore  in  a  skiff",  which  they  discovered 
under  the  counter.  Protection  was  then  asked  for  the 
brig  from  lieutenant  colonel  Scott,  of  the  second  regiment 
of  arti'lery,  who  immediately  despatched  a  company  of 
that  corps,  under  captain  J.  N.  Barker,  with  a  few  pieces, 
to  be  stationed  opposite  the  island.  A  boat  from  the  Bri- 
tish shore  approached  the  brig  with  forty  men,  who  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  on  board,  but  the  fire  of  four  pieces  of 
artillery,  soon  compelled  them  to  abandon  her,  and  she 
was  left  m  such  a  condition  that  it  would  be  impossible  to 
Scat  her.  Cuptala  Chaiiibers,  and  part  of  the  fifth  Uiiiied 
States  regiment,  afterwards  crossed  to  Squaw  Island  and 
liurnt  her,  with  ber  valuable  cargo  of  furs.    The  Caledo- 


^ 


37 

Ilia's  cargo  was  estimated  at  200,000  dollars.  In  all  theoc 
proceedings,  the  American  loss  was  three  killed,  three  se- 
verely,  and  four  or  five  shghtly  wounded.   Major  Cuyler 

Zjm^u^'  ^'^""l  ll'^T*^'  ^"'  ^'"««^  ^y  the  first  shot 
from  the  enemies  battenes,  as  he  stood  on  the  beach:  and 
midshipman  John  C.  Cummings  was  xvounded  in  the  lee 
by  a  bayonet,  as  he  was  boarding  the  Detroit.  The  reiru- 
lars  were  unused  to  this  species  of  service,  but  they  had 
entered  into  it  with  «eal  and  alacrity,  and^heir  conduct 
was  such  as  entitled  them  to  the  approbation  which  they 
received  from  their  officers.  Captiin  Towson  and  Ueu^ 
tenant  Roach  were  actively  engaged  during  the  whole  en- 
terprise, and  contributed  to  its success-as much  bvthe^r 
counsel,  as  by  their  intrepidity.  Captain  Talbot  Ch^br 

The  artillery  which  was  stationed  on  the  shore,  when  the 
Detroit  was  abandoned  by  the  crew,  was  served  wif  h  «ui1 
and  dexterity  The  loss  of  the  enem;  by  Ihe  de" 
report,  was  about  seventy.  ^        oeserters 

The  United  States  sloop  of  war  the  Wasp,  having  re- 

S:Sa"re^Vh"^^^^^^^^  P"^  *^  ^^«  ag^iinSu; 
weiaware,  on  the  13th  October  on  a  cruise.    On  the  17th 

she  discovered  five  sail  steering  eastward,  and  as  several 
of  them  had  the  appearance  of  ships  of  wa^,  slie  was  nlacpd 
m  such  a  situation  that  she  might  escape 'froin  oV^'^'n 
them,  as  circumstances  might  reouirp      vJlZ'  or  assail 

at  day-hght,  they  were  seen  ahead,  and  on  beinf  mad"  oS 
to  be  a  convoy  of  six  sail,  under  convnv  nr  o  li         / 
the  Wasp  gave  the™  immediate    hase"^  5!heto°„':„""r' 
der  a  heavy  press  of  sail,  aU  made  their  e7ca„T3'  .ft 
the  sloop  of  war  to  contend  witli  tlie  Wasn-  2th  ?        r 

Tk?zz  """'^  '"'""•  »<'»-nw  Jetdt  „r/ 

Ihe  weather  was  extremely  boisteron*    a^Vi    i       ^ 
rough,  that  the  Wasp's  guns  had  b^Pn' T      ''^ '^^  '"* 
times  under  water   she  nfvprfh^tf  ^^'^^'^^  '^^<^»-a» 

and  at  32  minutes  past  ?r  nl^  ^  ^'^^^"^'^  ^^'  «*^«on. 
handsome  stylt^n^t  laio^aTsidlTth:  Zt'7f'  ^" 
and  hailed  her  wiUiin  about  sixty  yards  fhT^LZ"' 
Bntish  sloop  the  Frolic,  captain  WhC^tes    o?  .r^i'.^ 


■rl 


I' I 


t        t 

■i    I 


eiusquetiy.  The  action  becoming  close,  the  Wasp  receiv- 
ed a  shot  which  took  away  her  main  topmast,  threw  it  over 
the  fore  anti  fore  mainsail  braces  and  made  her  head  yards 
unmanageable  during  the  remainder  of  the  action.  She 
was  soon  after  wounded  in  her  gaflf  and  mizen  top  gallant- 
eaii,  but  kept  up,  notwithstar^ding,  a  close  and  galling  fire 
as  her  side  was  going  down  with  the  swell  of  the  oea,  and 
every  shot  consequently  struck  the  Frolic's  hull.  The  En- 
glish, as  they  almost  invariably  do,  fired  as  their  ship  was 
rising,  and  therefore,  either  missed  their  aim,  or  struck 
only  the  rigging  of  the  Wasp.  The  Wasp  shot  ahead, 
gave  a  well  directed  broadside,  took  station  on  the  lar- 
board bow  of  the  Frolic,  and  gradually  neared  her,  until 
she  lay  her  on  board,  although  while  loading  another,  and 
the  last  broadside,  the  rammers  of  the  guns  struck  the 
side  of  the  enemy's  vessel.  The  Frolic  had  long  before 
slackened  her  fire,  and  her  jibboom  having  now  entered 
between  the  main  and  mizen  rigging  of  the  Wasp,  two  of 
the  latter's  guns  were  brought  through  her  bow  ports,  and 
£wept  her  whole  deck.  The  boarders  were  immediately 
called,  and  such  was  the  anxiety  of  every  man  to  be  the 
first  upon  her  deck,  that  several  of  them  were  pulled  dovyn 
upon  their  own  ship  from  the  bowsprit  of  the  Frolic. 
Lieutenant  Biddle,  who  was  a  supernumerary  officer  of 
the  Wasp,  had  mounted  the  hammock  cloth  to  board,  but 
his  feet  getting  entangled  in  the  rigging  of  the  Frolic's 
bowsprit,  midshipman  J.  C.  Baker,  in  his  enthusiastic  ar- 
dour, caught  the  lieutenant  by  hi*  coat,  drew  him  back 
upon  the  Wasp's  deck,  and  was  himself  the  first  officer 
on  that  of  the  enemy.  Lieutenant  Biddle,  however,  im- 
mediately sprung  up,  ascended  the  Frolic's  bowsprit,  and 
upon  getting  on  her  deck  found  not  a  smgle  man  alive, 
except  a  seaman  at  the  wheel  and  three  officers,  who 
threw  down  their  swords  and  yielded.  The  Frolic's 
colours  were  still  flying,  and  lieutenant  Biddle  jumping 
into  the  rigging,  pulled  down  the  English  eiisign  himself. 
Her  birth  deckj  was  crowded  with  dead  and  wounded,  and 
her  main  deck,  slippery  with  blood  ;  her  loss  could  not  be 
Accurately  ascertained,  as  many  erf  the  dead  had  been 
swept  into  the  sea  by  the  falling  of  her  rigging,  and  others 
were  buried  under  the  spars  which  had  fallen  on  the  decki 
hut  by  the  declaration  of  her  own  officers  it  could  not  be 
less  than  30  kiUed  and  about  60  wounded.     The  Wasp 


^ 


lost  5  killed  and  5  wounded.  Lieutenant  Biddle  was  put 
^n  board  the  Frolic  with  a  prize  crew,  with  orders  to  make 
a  southern  port ;  but  the  approach  of  a  British  ship  of  the 
line,  the  Poictiers,  sir  J.  P.  Berresford,  of  74  guns,  made 
it  necessary  for  both  ships  to  make  sail  for  the  most  con- 
venient. The  Frolic  was  so  much  damaged,  and  the 
Wasp  so  disabled  in  her  rigging,  that  the  enemy  closed 
upon  them  fast,  fired  a  shot  over  and  passed  the  Frolic, 
pursued  the  Wasp,  and  made  capture  of  both,  and  order- 
ed them  to  Bermuda. 

Thus  terminated  a  spirited  and  brilliant  contest,  of  43 
minutes,  in  the  capture  of  an  enemy's  vessel,  four  guns  su- 
perior at  least,  to  her  antagonist.  The  conduct  of  the 
American  officers  and  seamen,  shewed  that  they  were  not 
to  be  surpassed  in  promptitude  or  courage  ;  to  that  of  lieu- 
tenant Biddle,  and  lieutenant  Rodgers,  first  of  the  ship,  and 
every  otJier  commissioned  and  warmnt  officer  on  board, 
captain  Jones  has  gi  ;en  official  testimony. 

A  seaman,  of  tlie  name  of  Jack  Lang,  gave  a  very  ex- 
traordinary instance  of  bravery  and  eccentricity,  by  mount- 
ing the  enemy'o  bowsprit  before  any  of  his  brother  sailors 
had  attempted  to  do  so,  though  called  back  by  his  com- 
mander, and  by  the  jocose  manner  in  which  he  descended 
from  it  to  the  deck  of  the  Frolic,  with  many  humourous 
expressions,  peculiar  to  his  profession.  Lieutenant  Booth 
and  Mr.  Rapp,  and  midshipmen  Gaunt"  and  Baker,  the  lat- 
ter of  whom  died  in  Bermuda,  behaved  with  great  person- 
al bravery.  Lieutenant  Claxton,  who  was  confined  by 
sickness,  left  his  bed,  went  upon  deck,  and  noted  the  in- 
cidents of  the  engagement  with  great  composure. 

When  captain  Jones  returned  from  Bermuda,  he  re- 
ceived from  his  countrymen  as  many  flattering  testimonials 
ot  their  approbation,  as  they  had  previously  given  to  cap- 
tain  Hull.     The  legislatures  of  Massachusetts,  New  York 
and  Delaware,  of  which  latter  state  he  was  a  native,  present- 
ed him  with  their  thanks,  and  several  elegant  swords  and 
pieces  of  plate.  The  order  of  Cincinnati  admitted  him  into 
the  society,  as  an  honorary  member,  as  they  had  captain 
Hull;  and  the  congress  of  the  United  States  voted  him 
his  officers,  and  crew,  25,000  dollars,  in  consideration  of 
the  loss  they  met  with,  by  not  beins  abMio  brinir  i„  <h- 
iTOilC,       '  ^p  ^^  •" 


•I 
1?!  I 


XL, 


11 


p:U 


m 


I'l 


I, '  i 


40 

The  next  naval  action  took  place  on  the  25th  of  Octo- 
ber, and  terminated  in  the  victory  of  the  United  States* 
frigate  the  United  States,  over  the  British  frigat<  the  Ma- 
cedonian, the  command  of  which,  upon  her  being  brought 
Into  port,  refitte>l  and  taken  into  the  service,  was  given  to 
lieutenant  ccnnmandant  Jones,  who,  as  a  further  testimony 
of  the  high  opinion  which  the  executive  entertained  of  his 
gallant  conduct  in  the  capture  of  the  Frolic,  was  now  pro- 
pioted  to  the  rank  of  post  captain.  The  events  of  that  en- 
gagement, in  the  order  of  succession,  should  have  been 
recorded  in  the  present  chapter.  They  will  be  found, 
kowever,  in  another  naval  section  of  this  work. 

Though  the  enemy  gained  no  advantages  over  our  forces 
on  the  ocean,  which  could  counter-balance  the  disasters 
he  sustained,  by  thesf  uccessive  triumphs  of  the  Ameritan 
arms,  his  superior  ciass  of  ^ips  made  capture  of  several 
of  our  smaller  vessels  of  war.  The  squadron  which  had 
pursued  the  Constitution  on  the  18th  of  Jtily,  captured  a 
day  or  two  after,  the  United  States'  schooner  Nautihis,  of 
I2gun€,  commanded  by  lieutenant  commandant  Crane: 
.and  on  the  22d  ©f  November,  the  United  States'  schooner 
Vixen,  lieutenant  commandant  George  Washington  Reed, 
of  .the  same  number  of  gums,  was  captured,  after  a  chase  of 
nine  hours  and  an  half,  by  the  British  frigate  Southampton, 
sir  James  Lucas  Yeo.  Though  the  Vixen  was  command- 
ed by  a  skilful  and  scientific  seaman,  and  manned  by  as 
gallant  a  crew  as  any  other  American  vessel,  every  effort 
to  escape  was  found  to  be  fraitless,  and  she  w^s  at  length 
surrendered  to  a  ship,  fis  much  superior  in  sailing  as  in 
force.  She  had  not  long  been  captive  to  the  enemy,  be- 
fore both  vessels  ran  askoi'e,  and  were  immediately  wreck- 
ed. The  frigates'  crew  became  mutinous  frcnn  intoxica- 
tion, and  the  property  which  was  saved  from  both  wrecks^ 
was  retrieved  by  the  generous  and  indefatigable  exertions 
of  the  American  sailors.  Captain  Reed,  himself,  was  as  ac- 
tually engaged  in  the  direction  and  encouragement  of  the 
men,  as  any  ofthe  British  officers,  and  he  received  the  pub- 
lic acknowledgments  of  Sir  James,  accompanied  by  an  of- 
fer of  his  parole  to  return  home.  But  such  were  the  noble 
sentiments  by  wljich  he  was  ever  actuat^l,  that  he  would 
r.ot  leave  his  gUb^i*^  ^^^  men,  and  prefering  to  remain 
with  them  in  IPninhealthy  climate,  to  which  they  were 
taken,  he  became  a  victim  to  an  obstinate  feverj  brought 


41 

on  by  the  anxieties  and  fatigues,  to  which,  by  his  unpleasant 
situation,  and  his  unremitting  attention  to  the  comforts  of 
his  iren,  he  was  necessarily  exposed.  His  interment  was 
attended  by  the  British  officers,  and  a  detachment  from  the 
garrison,  and  his  funeral  obsequies  were  accompanied  by 
those  honors  due  to  his  rank  which  are  seldom  witliheid 
from  a  brave  enemy. 

A  splendid  triumph  seldom  fails  to  excite  the  general 
joy,  and  to  call  forth  the  universal  admiration  of  the  peo^ 
pie.  The  rapid  succession,  in  which  the  naval  conquests 
followed  each  other — the  superiority  of  seamanship  and 
gunnery,  which  was  exhibited  in  each,  and  the  fact  being 
now  well  ascertained,  that  the  inexperienced  crews  of  the 
American  navy,  could  not  only  sustain  a  conflict  with, 
but  might  actually  capture,  the  veteran  seamen  of  the  ene- 
my, whenever  chance  should  bring  them  together,  upon 
equal  terms ;  the  attention  of  congress  was  turned  to  the 
marine  establishment,  and  the  majority  of  the  nation  . 
were  desirous  that  measures  should  be  immediately  a- 
dopted  for  its  enlargement. 


CHAPTER  lU. 


Bostiiitiea  of  the  Creek  Indians — Fight  near  Davis* 
Battle  of  the  Lotchrvay  town. 


Creek 


INTELLIGENCE  of  the  recent  misfortune  of  the 
northwestern  army,  of  the  assault  upon  the  troops  from  fort 
Chicago,  and  of  the  advantages  which  were  consequently- 
expected  to  follow  those  events,  having  been  communi- 
cated by  early  despatches  from  the  tribes  on  the  northern, 
to  those  of  the  Creek  nation  on  the  southern  frontiers;  fears 
were  entertained  that  the  result  of  a  council  of  the  chiefs 
of  that  nation,  which  was  to  be  held  on  the  22d  of  Octo- 
ber, would  be  unfavourable  to  the  interests  of  that  depart- 
ment of  the  union,  and  that  a  coalition  would  be  formed 
between  the  Indians  of  the  two  extremities^  which  might 
require  all  the  energies  of  the  government  to  suppress,—- 
To  this   council  of  the   Creeks,  their   neighbours,  the, 
Choctaws,  the   Chickasaws,  and  the   Cherokees,   were 
invited,  and  if  the  deliberations  of  such  a  convention, 
should  be  influenced  by  the  elation  evidently  produced  by 
the  late  successes  of  their  northern  Red  brothers,  the  whole 
frontier  from  Tennessee  to  the  bay  of  MobiJe,  and  all  the 
settlements  between  Georgia  and  the  Mississippi,  and  Ten- 
nessee and  Florida,  would  be  subject  to  their  depredations. 
The  Siminoles,  a  tribe  attached  to  the  Creek  nation,  were 
already  at  war  with  the  white  people  on  the  borders  of 
East  Florida,  and  had  murdered  several  citizens  on  the 
Georgia  side  of  the  St.  Marys.     The  same  hatchet  which 
is  raised  by  one  of  a  chain  of  tribes,  linked  together  by 
common  or  confederated  interests,  is  generally  grasped  by 
all.     The  Creeks  were  not  dilatory  in  following  an  exam- 
ple, which  they  at  first  pretended  to  restrain,  and  their  out- 
rages suppassed  those  of  any  of  the  northern  nations. 

The  British  availing  themselves  of  one  of  the  best  har- 
bors in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  sent  several  of  their  vessels 
loaded  with  the  implements  of  war,  to  Pensacola.    The 


Javia*  Creek 


comtnandant  at  8t.  Marks,  a  small  Spanish  settlement  ht^-^ 
tween  East  and  West  Florida,  informed  the  chiefs  that  the 
English  would  soon  be  there  with  guns,  knives,  hatchets^ 
and  ammunition,  for  the  Red  People,  whom  they  consi — 
dered  to  be  their  friends.  These  were  put  into  the  handd 
of  the  Indians,  and  they  commenced  their  hostilities  against 
all  the  defenceless  inhabitants  of  Tennessee  and  Georgia. 
The  presence  of  an  army  became  now  necessary  in  the 
south,  and  the  states  there,  were  authorized  to  call  forth  as 
many  of  the  militia,  as,  in  conjunction  with  the  regulars^ 
might  be  thought  competent  to  queU  the  associated  tribes. 
The  Indians  of  the  Creek  nation,  are  not  subject  to  any 
kind  of  restraint  in  war,  they  will  neither  give  nor  receive 
quarters,  and  pursue  no  other  mode  but  that  which  leads 
to  entire  extermination.  The  force  necessary  to  combat 
such  an  enemy,  must  therefore  be  extensive,  and  the 
executives  of  the  different  states,  made  every  exertion, 
to  arm,  and  equip  the  whole  quota  of  the  militia. 

The  Seminoles  had  been  committing  depredations  of 
khe  most  daring  nature,  before  they  had  any  intelligence 
from  the.r  northern  friends ;  and  uniting  to  their  forces  a 
number  of  negroes  whom  they  had  captured  at  Florida^ 
they  made  frequent  incursions  into  the  state  of  Georgia, 
murdered  many  inhabitants,  and  carried  off  much  valua- 
ble plunder.  On  the  night  of  the  11th  of  September,, 
about  twenty  American  troops,  principally  marines,  under 
command  of  captain  Williams,  of  that  corps,  were  march- 
ing with  two  waggons  towards  Davis's  Creek.  When 
within  ten  miles  of  their  destination,  they  were  attacked 
by  a  party  of  Indians  and  negroes,  of  about  fifty  in  num- 
ber, with  whom  they  contended  until  every  cartridge 
was  expended.  Captain  Williams,  in  the  course  of  that 
time,  received  eight  wounds,  and  was  carried  off,  by  two 
of  his  men,  leaving  captain  Fort,  of  the  volunteers,  to 
command  the  troops,  and  to  keep  up  the  contest ;  but  he 
being  also  wounded,  and  finding  the  strength  of  the  party 
to  be  diminishing,  retired  in  the  best  manner  he  could, 
and  left  the  Indians  in  possession  of  the  waggons,  and 
teams.  The  night  was  excessively  dark,  Mid  several  of 
the  men,  who  were  wounded,  had  concealed  themselves 
in  the  bushes.     On  the  fnllnwuio'  mnm\ni*  a  a<^^^u, 1^. 

was  sent  from  a  block-house  a  few  miles  off;  to.  which 
*ome  of  the  men  had  escaped,  to  examine  the  Tcmw\^ 


i 

^j. 

1 

J: 

f 

Tliey  found  captain  Williams,  with  his  right  leg  and  left 
arm  broken,  his  left  leg  shot  through  with  one,  and  his  right 
am  with  three  balls,  and  a  wound  through  the  lower  part 
of  his  body.  One  man  was  killed  and  scalped,  and  the 
whole  number  of  wounded  was  six.  The  Indians  de- 
stroyed one  waggon,  but  took  the  other  to  carry  off  their 
dead  and  wounded— of  whom  the  number  was  much 
greater  than  that  of  the  marines.  Captain  Williams  lan- 
guished for  three  or  four  days,  and  expired  at  Davis's 
Creek.  He  was  a  brave  young  man,  and  noted  for  his 
sedulous  attention  to  the  duties  of  his  station. 

On  the  24th  of  the  same  month,  colonel  Newnan,  of 
the  Georgia  Volunteers,  left  Picollata,  witli  about  117 
men,  for  the  Lotchway  towns.  On  his  third  day's 
march,  when  within  seven  miles  of  the  first  of  those 
towns,  he  was  m^i  by  a  body  of  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  Indians,  all  of  whom  were  mounted.  This  meeting 
was  very  unexpected  to  tlie  Indians  ;  but  they  immedi- 
ately dismounted,  formed  a  line  of  battle,  and  marched 
a  few  pa«esy  in  advance.  This  movement  was  intended  to 
Intimidate  the  Georgians;  but  colonel  Newnan  gave  orders 
for  the  charge,  and  determined  to  put  an  end  to  the  en- 
counter, by  entirely  subduing  the  Indians,  or  putting  them 
to  flight.  The  battle  ground  was  situated  midstv  a  num- 
ber of  swamps,  which  bounded  three  of  its  sides.  The 
Indians  remained  firm  until  the  Georgians  had  advanced 
within  fifty  paces  of  their  line,  when  they  fled  to  these 
swamps  for  safety.  The  whole  of  the  musquetry  being 
fired  at  them,  with  precision,  made  great  execution,  and 
among  others,  killed  their  leader,  King  Paine,  His  tribe, 
on  hearing  of  his  fall,  were  resolved,  on  rescuing  his 
body  from  the  enemy  ;  and  returned  to  the  action  for 
that  purpose.  Several  charges  were  now  made,  and  the 
Indians  were  constantly  driven  back,  until  at  length,  they 
determined  on  one  desperhte  effort,  and  recovering  all 
their  strength  and  spirits,  they  made  a  push  against  the 
Georgiacs,  which,  though  it  was  received  with  firmness, 
could  not  be  resisted  with  much  vigor.  The  Indians, 
obtained  the  body  of  King  Paine,  gave  up  the  conflict, 
which  had  now  lasted  upwards  of  four  hours,  and  carried 


■%fP   iKoii.     t 


twenty  and  thirty. 
Before  night  of  th«;  same  day,  the  Indians  were  reui- 


45 


were  reui- 


forced  from  their  towns,  by  other  Indians  and  negroesj 
and  renewed  and  kept  up  the  action,  with  the  greatest  ob- 
stinacy, until  they  began  to  think  the  volunteers  invinci- 
ble, and  again  fled.  Their  force  in  the  second  attack  was 
upwards  of  two  hundred,  but  they  were  repulsed  with 
nearly  the  same  loss  as  in  the  first ;  Whilst  the  volunteers' 
loss,  in  both,  was  but  one  killed  and  nine  wounded. 

Colonel  Newnan's  situation  was  becoming  extremely 
hazardous ;  the  enemy's  numbers  were  hourly  increas- 
ing, and  they  began  to  surround  him  on  all  sides :  he 
therefore  threw  up  a  small  breastwork,  from  which  he  was 
determined  to  defend  himself  until  his  troops  should-  be 
reinforced  also.  He  had  already  despatched  expresses, 
to  procure  additional  numbers.  His  wounded  men  ren- 
dered him  unable  to  retreat,  or  to  advance ;  and  he  re- 
pelled every  assault  which  was  made  upon  this  little 
work,  until  the  4th  day  of  October.  The  Indians  were 
oontinually  harrassing  him,  day  and  night  ;  and  tinding 
they  could  make  no  impression  on  his  fortification,  they 
glutted  their  insatiable  vengeance,  by  shooting  all  his 
horses.  On  the  4th,  a  perfect  silence  prevailed  within 
colonel  Newnan's  camp,  and  the  Indians  suspected  from 
fliat,  and  the  circumstance  of  their  fire  not  having  been 
returned  the  day  preceding,  that  he  had  deserted  it  in  the 
Bight.  Under  this  assurance,  they  approached  the  works, 
without  any  thought  of  opposition,  until  they  were  withia 
forty  paces  of  them,  when  the  Georgian  troops  suddenly 
showed  themselves,  compelled  the  Indians  to  retreat  with 
precipitation,  and  after  several  rapid  discharges  of  mus- 
quetry,  killed  and  wounded  about  thirty  warriors  more. 
They  then  decamped,  without  being  molested,  and  were 
stationed  about  ten  miles  off,  on  the  Picolatta  road,  where 
they  were  obliged  to  await  the.  arrival  of  fresh  horses  and 
provisions.  Colonel  Newnan's  accomit  of  this  affair, 
bestows  a  high  degree  of  credit  upon  every  volunteer  of 
his  detachment ;  and  their  intrepid  conduct,  as  well  as  his 
judicious  arrangements,  served  to  give  a  check  to  the 
combined  red  and  black  warriors,  which  promised  secu- 
rity to  the  neighbourhood  at  least,  until  larger  forces 
should  be  organized.    Besides  the  loss   of  King  Paine 

the  InflinnQ   h»H   iUvoo  nf  *v%r^    «i^r,/>:.^»i   «i.:^r, i   ^i     •' 

young  governor  slain  ;   and  Bow-legs,  their  secoad  i. 
command,  severely  wouadeA 


i: 


CHAPTER  rv- 

Organization  of  ihe  North-Western  Army — Its  disposi- 
tion— Command  given  to  Oeneral  Harrison — JJejince 
of  Fort  Harrison — Siege  of  Fort  Wayne — Expedition 
against  the  Indian  towns. 

IMMEDIATELY  after  the  surrender  of  the  garrisona 
at  Michilimackina'5,  Chicago,  and  Detroit,  measures  were 
adopted  for  the  organization  and  ecpiipment  of  a  new  ar- 
my. An  oflPer  hau  been  made  to  receive  volunteers  into 
the  service,  from  the  states  and  territories  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Michigan  ;  and  they  came  forward  with  an 
alacrity  which  made  it  unnecessary  to  hold  out  allure- 
ments. The  recovery  of  the  surrendered  territory,  and 
the  re-establishment  of  its  former  civil  government,  were 
the  strong  motives,  which  induced  all  the  brave,  and  patri- 
©tic  men,  in  its  vicinity,  to  take  up  arms,  and  march 
against  the  invaders.  The  inhabitants  of  that  territory, 
were  now  governed  by  an  authority  too  rigorous  to  be 
oompatible  with  those  notions  of  liberty  inspired  by  the  ge- 
aius  of  their  own  constitution,  aiid  they  were  awi  ting  the 
expected  succour  from  their  friends,  with  the  deepest 
anxiety. 

The  new  army  was  in  readiness  almost  instantly,  the 
dififercnt  corps  concentrated  with  unprecedented  celerity, 
and  by  the  early  part  of  September,  (heir  disposition  was 
completed.  Two  thousand  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  un- 
der brigadier  general  Crooks,  left  Pittsburg  for  the  shores 
of  lake  Erie  ;  general  Tupper's  brigade  of  Ohio  volun- 
teers, was  to  retrace  the  road  which  had  been  formed  by 
the  first  army,  from  Urbanna  to  the  Rapids  ;  and  a  bri- 
gade of  Virginians,  when  they  should  arrive,  under  ge- 
neral Leftwhicb,  was  to  pursue  the  same  route.  General 
Payne's  brigade  of  Kentucky  volunteers,  the  first  of  tin' 
present  army  which  was  in  readiness,  and  the  17th  Uni- 
ted Stales  regiment,  under  colonel  Wells,  were  to  pro- 


"m, 


47 

reed  to  fort  Wayne,  and  deacend  to  the  Rapids  of  the 
Miami  of  the  laksa,  w!  ich  place  was  assigned  for  the  ge- 
neral rendpzvous. 

The  command  of  the  second  north-western  army  was 
given,  by  the  unanimous  wislies  of  the  troops  composing 
it,  to  general  W.  H.  Harrison ;  the  immediate  command 
of  the  Kentucky  troops  under  general  Payne,  devolved 
on  him,  by  his  being  brevctted  a  major  general  by  the  go- 
vernor of  that  state. 

Forts  Harrison  and  Wavne  were  at  this  time  garrisoned 
only  by  a  few  regulars  and  volunteers  ;  numerous  British 
and  Indian  forces,  had  already  marched  from  Maiden,  to 
lay  waste  the  Ohio  frontier,  and  the  latter  post  would 
naturally  be  their  leading  [>oint.  General  Harrison  there- 
fore immediately  marched  to  its  relief,  with  Payne's 
brigade  and  the  regulars. 

The  former  post  (fort  Harrison)  was  invested  on  the 
third  of  September,  by  the  Prophet's  party  from  the 
Wabash.  On  the  night  of  the  fourth,  they  set  fire  to 
one  of  the  block-houses,  containing  the  contractor's  pro- 
perty, and  followed  up  that  act,  by  a  resolute  attack  upon 
the  fort.  The  garrison  was  commanded  by  captain  Z. 
Taylor,  of  the  7th  U.  S.  infantry, and  consisted  of  only  18 
effective  men.  The  flames  were  raging — the  Indians,  about 
300  in  number,  were  howling  in  their  usual  horrid  man- 
ner, and  the  women  and  children  of  the  barracks,  were 
crying  for  protection  which  they  did  not  expect  to  re- 
ceive. When  the  block-house  should  be  entirely  con- 
sumed, a  large  entrance  would  be  open  to  the  enemy  ; 
no  efforts  had  yet  succeeded  to  extinguish  the  fire  ;  its 
ascendency  baffled  every  attempt — and  the  men  them- 
selves began  to  despond.  Two  of  the  stoutest  jumped 
over  the  pickets,  with  a  hope  of  escaping  in  the  dark  ; 
but  one  of  them  was  cut  to  pieces,  and  scalped,  and  the 
other  returned  with  his  arm  broken,  and  implored  to  be 
re-admitted  into  the  fort.  Under  these  discouraging  cir- 
cumstances, captain  Taylor  never  suffered  his  presence 
of  mind  to  forsake  him  ;  and  applying  the  tmly  resource 
now  left  him,  he  ordered  a  small  party  to  dislodge  the 
roof  of  the  house,  so  that  it  might  fall  in  the  space,  whilst 
a  few  men  in  another  house  were  to  keep  up  a  continual 
fire  upon  the  Indians.  His  plan  succeeded — the  men  be- 
came confident  in  their  exertions,  and  a  breast-work  was 


48 

formed  under  ft  heavy  shower  of  bulletfl,  alonj;  the  cavity 

which  the  destruction  of  the  block-house  produced.     A 

►  desperate   defence  was  now  made,  and  a  constant  and 

rapid  fire  kept  up  until  six  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the 

6th.     Several  furious  asbaults  had  been  repulsed  ;  and 

iho  Indians,  at  the  approach  of  day,  judgin{<;  the  number 

of  the  garrison  to  be  greater  than  it  actually  was,  retired 

with  a  quantity  of  captured  cattle,  after  havinf^  shot  aU 

the  horses  belonging  to  the  fort.     Doctor  Clarke  was  the 

most  indefatigable  man  in  the  engagement,  and  captain 

Taylor's  good  conduct  was  so  highly  applauded,  that  the 

president  soon  after  promoted  him  to  a  majority.     Two 

men  only  were  killed,  with  the  exception  of  the  deserter, 

and  one  wounded.     The  Indians  always  carry  off  their 

dead,  unless  their  numbers  are  too  small ;  and  their  loss 

18  seldom  without  great   difficulty  ascertained.     All  the 

iwovisions  were   consumed   by  the  fire,  and  the  garrison 

compelled  to  subsist  on  green  com,  until  reinfarcements 

should  come  on  with  supplies     The  little  band,  which 

was  now  reduced  to  fourteen  men,  repaired  the  damages 

sustained  by  the  fort,  and  constructed  a  strong  fortification 

across  the  space.     The  bastions  were  all  put  in  the  best 

state  of  defence,  and  every  precaution  adopted  to  sustain 

a  second  assault.     To  the  great  joy  of  the    garrison, 

however,  colonel  William  Rnssell  arrived  about  the  16th, 

from  Illinois,  with  six  hundred  mounted  rangers,  and  five 

hundred  infantry  ;  and  fort  Harrison  became  sufficiently 

manned  to  resist  the  attack  of  a  much  larger  body  of 

the  Prophet's  warriours. 

The  situation  of  fort  Wayne  was  now  more  critical,  than 
that  of  any  other  fortress  in  the  west.  The  Indians,  who 
had  proceeded  from  the  battle  ground  of  Chicago,  were 
afterwards  reinforced  by  those  from  Maiden,  and  they  laid 
siege  to  this  fortress  in  very  large  numbers.  The  troops 
in  garrison,  amounted  to  seventy.  On  the  night  of  the  6th 
of  September,  the  Indians  commenced  an  attack;  they  fired 
principally  upon  the  sentinels,  but  did  no  injury.  On  the 
6th,  several  of  the  men  went  out  of  the  south  gate  of  the 
fort,  but  had  not  proceeded  more  than  seventy  paces, 
when  two  of  them  were  killed,  and  by  the  exertions  of  their 
companions,  tlieir  bodies  were  carried  into  the  fort,  to  pro- 
tect them  asrainst  savaee  indiffnitieo.  Tinp;««.  iU^  p.ja-hh 
auother  attack  ^as  made  by  the^whole  force  ofitoe  i^diana, 


g  the  cavity 
oduced.  A 
onstaut  and 
riling  of  the 
luUed  ;  and 
the  number 
was,  reliied 
'inc;  shot  ail 
rke  was  the 
and  captain 
led,  tliat  tlie  ^1 
.rity.  Two  ® 
he  deserter, 
rry  oflF  their 
id  their  loss 
d.  All  the 
he  garrison 
tiforcements 
l)and,  which 
he  damages 
fortification 
in  the  best 
id  to  sustain 
e  garrison, 
utthe  16tb, 
rs,  and  five 
sufiQciently 
5er  body  of 

xitical,  than 
idians,  who 
cago,  were 
id  they  laid 
The  troops 
it  of  the  6th 
k;  they  fired 
y.  On  the 
gate  of  the 
;nty  paces, 
ions  of  their 
fort,  to  pro- 


iV^ 


£k    ¥lin* 


If 


and  when  they  approached  the  fort,  it  was  confidently  ex- 
pected  that  they  wouhl  scale  the  works,  but  the  incessant 
fire  of  UiH  t^arrison,  compelled  them  to  abandon  their  de- 
signs.    What  they  «ould  not  do  by  force,  thf^y  then  at- 
tempted by  stratagem.     Resort  was  had  to  all  kinds  of 
artifice,  and  they  at  length  brought  up  two  wooden  pieces 
which  they  had  contrived  in  imitation  of  cannon,  to  per- 
suade the  garrison,  that  the  B.itish  had  supplied  them  with 
battering  pieces,  to  reduce  the  place.  Th(  se  were  brought 
up,  and  one  of  their  chiefs  threatened  to  batter  down  the 
walls,  unless  the  troops  would  immediately  capitulate  •  or 
\to  storm  them  on  the  following  day,  when  tht^y  would  be 
reinforced  by  seven  hundred  other  warriors.      In  three 
days  they  menaced  an  entire  massacre,  but  the  tmops  in 
[fort  Wayne,  still  hoping  that  it  would  be  relieved  by  the 
arrival  of  the  expected  volunteers,  resolved  to  hold  out 
I  until  every  article  of  provision  should  be  exhausted.     No' 
other  attempts  were  made  upon  the  fort,  until  the  9th 
when  a  finng  was  commencetl  and  continued  at  intervals 
Jail  day,  but  without  doing  any  damage.     On  the  succeed- 
ling  (lay,  they  began  their  war  whoop,  renewed  their  fire 
land  were  again  unsuccessful.      Not  a  man  was  killed  in 
(any  of  their  attacks,  the  only  wounds  which  they  inflicted 
[being  upon  those  who  ventured  without  the  fort.    On  the 
[evening  of  the  12th,  general  Harrison's  forces  reached  the 
garrison,  and  the  whole  Indian  body  precipitately  fled, 
t     The  depredations  which  they  had  committed  about  the 
fort, were  as  inhuman,  as  they  were  extensive.  All  the  stock 
Inpon  the  neighbouring  farms  was  destroyed;  the  corn  all 
[the  small  grain  and  every  house  burned ;  and  all  the  hofses 
wa.  T'l  '^•'^^-     The  Indian  agent, ' Stephen  JoEn 
was  murdered,  and  his  body  treated  with  shocking  inde' 
leency :  and,  indeed,  the  commission  of  no  act,  indicative 
Ir  Jl^^^  vengeance,  was  omitted.    The  approach  of  U.e 
Z  nHh^fi  y?*""^^^'"^'  prevented,  perhaps,  the  destruc- 
tion  of  the  fields  at  a  greater  distance,  and  secured  a  sup- 

f^f  ofhp     ^^'  'P'^P'^J^^^^  it  necessary  to  obtain  supplies 
of  other  provisions,  from  the  towns  of  those  tribes,  which 

hHv.  ^ff"  ?/^\?  •"  ^^«t™y»"g  what  the  farms  might 
?.T.5?^^f!!-     »t  ^««  "«v.  high  time,  too,  to  make  the 

[  JrnphjL'Tir'*"^  ^^""^I^  "**  *"^  ^*''  w^'*''^  their  repeated 
h^ruelties  had  provoked;  and  to  CQuvince  them,  that  th« 


60 


'i>  K^. 


American  troops  were  not  quite  so  contemptible  and  de- 
graded, as  the  Indians  implied  them  to  be,  from  the  sur- 
render of  the  late  commander  in  chief,  on  the  same  station. 
General  Harrison,  therefore,  divided  his  forces  into  8C0U^ 
ing  parties,  under  command  of  his  most  active  officers. 
"  Several  expeditions  were  forwarded  against  the  Indian 
settlements,  and  some  expectations  entertained,  that  they 
might  be  drawn  into  battle.  But  they  did  not  betray  the 
same  willingness  to  combat  these  corps,  which  they  had 
heretofore  shewn  to  encounter  others.  The  Kentuckians 
were  held  in  great  dread,  by  most  of  the  Indian  warriors, 
and  the  expression  oi  ^^  Kentucky  too  much,'"  has  not  un- 
frequently  accompanied  their  orders  to  retreat,  in  the  form 
of  justification.  On  the  I4th,  general  Harrison  despatched 
colonel  Wells,  with  his  own  and  colonel  Scott's  regiments, 
and  two  hundred  mounted  riflemen,  with  instructions  to 
proceed  up  the  river  St.  Joseph,  which,  with  the  St.  Ma- 
ry's, forms  the  Miami  of  the  lakes,  and  to  destroy  the  Po- 
tawatomie  towns  at  Elk  Hart.  Another  detachment,  con- 
sisling  oi  colonels  Allen  and  Lewis'  regiments,  and  captain 
Garraj'd's  troop,  under  command  of  general  Payne,  but 
which  the  commander  in  chief  accompanied,  proceeded, 
on  the  same  day,  to  the  destruction  of  the  Miami  towns, 
on  the  forks  of  the  Wabash.  The  object  of  each  expe- 
dition was  accomplished  without  opposition,  the  Indians 
of  t}iose  tribes  having  abandoned  tlieir  villages,  and  the 
different  detachments  returned  to  the  fort  on  the  18th. 

Several  Indian  tribes,  who  constantly  resisted  the  soli- 
citations of  the  enemy  to  join  their  standard,  had  before 
this  time  expressed  their  desires  of  being  taken  into  the 
service  of  the  Uniied  States  ;  arrungements  having  been 
made  between  general  Harrison  and  the  executive  go- 
vernment, yvhich  authorised  him  to  em{)ioy  them,  he  had 
accepfed  the  services  of  Logan,  a  chief  of  reputation  as 
a  warriour,  and  was  accompanied  by  him  on  his  march 
towards  fort  V^ayne.  On  the  arriva'  of  the  troops  at  that 
place,  Logan  went  forward  with  about  seven  hundred 
men,  raised  an  Indian  yell,  and  pursued  the  retreating 
tribes.  This  signal  was  answered  by  th-em,  at  the  dis- 
tance of  only  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards ;  but  the  inter- 
vnilfiM  rtf  tUf.  i'lyf »•  and  BPvera!  other  obstacieSi 
¥ented  the  pursuit  being  attended  wiiJi  effect 


nrP- 


ptible  and  de- 
from  the  sur- 
i  same  station. 
ces  into  8cou^ 
ctive  officers. 
ist  the  Indian 
ned,  that  they 
ttot  betray  the 
hich  they  had 
d  Kentuckians 
dian  warriors, 
"  has  not  un- 
it, in  the  form 
on  despatched 
tt's  regiments, 
nstructions  to 
th  the  St.  Ma- 
3stroy  the  Po- 
achment,  con- 
ts,  and  captain 
a!  Payne,  but 
l\,  proceeded, 
Miami  towns, 
of  each  expe- 
n,  the  Indians 
ages,  and  the 
ithe  18th. 
listed  the  soli- 
I,  had  before 
al^en  into  the 
i  having  been 
executive  go- 
them,  he  had 
reputation  as 
[)n  his  march 
troops  at  that 
iven  hundred 
the  retreating 
m,  at  the  dis- 
but  the  inter- 
hgtac-ieS:. 


nrP- 


51 

General  Winchester,  of  the  United  States  army,  arrived 
at  fort  Wayne,  immediately  after  the  expedition  against 
the  Indian  villages,  and  the  command  of  the  detachments 
under  general  Payne  and  colonel  Wells,  was  resigned  to 
him,  in  obedience  to  the  orders  of  the  war  department. 
The  volunteers,  who  had  centred  all  their  affections  in  the 
person  of  the  commander  of  their  choice,  were  not  satis- 
fied with  this  change,  until  general  Harrison  reminded 
them  of  the  revolutionary  services  of  his  successor,  and 
communicated  to  them  tlie  instructions  from  the  depart- 
ment, confirming  him  in  the  command  of  all  the  troops, 
but  those  which  were  assigned  to  general  Winchester. 

The  strength  of  this  army  was  continually  augmenting. 
Volunteer  associations,  to  a  greater  number  than  it  was 
politic  to  receive  into  the  service,  were  formed,  equipped, 
and  ready  to  march  against  the  enemy  in  the  same  day, 
and  a  selection  was  made  from  among  them,  of  such  a 
force  as  was  at  that  time  required,  in  conjunction  with  the 
troops  which  had  already  marched,  to  make  the  army  com- 
plete. But  such  was  the  patriotic  impetuosity  of  the  wes- 
tern people,  that  many  of  the  corps  who  were  not  fortunate 
enough  to  be  received,  immediately  provided  themselves 
at  their  own  expense,  and  insisted  upon  accompanying 
their  fellow  citizens  to  the  field. 

The  siege  of  fort  Wayne  having  been  raised  by  the  In- 
dians, it  now  entered  into  the  views  of  the  .wo  generals  to 
inarch  forces  to  the  relief  of  the  intermediate  garrisons  be- 
tween that  place  and  Detroit,  against  which  an  ultimate 
movement  was  to  be  made;  the  leading  object  of  the  ex- 
pedi  ion  being  to  regain  the  ground  which  had  been  lost 
and  to  retrieve  the  late  disaster,  not  only  by  re-possessing 
that  fortress,  but  by  the  capture  of  Maiden  and  all  the  great 
ra  lying  points  of  the  northern  Indians.  Through  the  ex- 
ertions of  the  indefatigable  governor  of  Ohio,*  every  ue- 

irene"i^"thfuS/^f  T"  ^  ^'''«'*  *^"  P''^^^"'  P°«t  master 
general  ol  the  United  States,  whose  act  ve  zeal  ii\  the  service  of 

affairof  tT'  T.  "»"'^^»f^d  by  his  administration  of  the  cl^l 
affairs  of  the  state  over  which  he  presided,  before  and  after  th* 

fhTr"'5"?'"'  ^^  ''°^''''^'"  ^''^«"  the  invasion  of  OMowM 
threatened  by  general  Brock,  after  he  took  possession  of  Mi™ 
gan  governor  Meigs,  with  incessant  diligence,  highly  honori 
ble  to  his  patriotism,  eauinnei*.  nr««5^-w  „„J  ^J^JlI^,^^^' 
army  after  another,  untif  the  "safety  of  th^  ^i:t:'^:s'^"^ 
and  the  n,as«  of  the  inhabiUnts  of '  hat  devoteTterrUor;;  fled 


6ft 


i-  ^: 


cessary  supply  was  forwarded  with  the  greatest  possible 
despatch,  and  general  Winchester  Uierefore  advanced  to 
tort  Defiance,  whilst  general  Harrison  fixed  hift  head  quar- 
ters at  St.  Mary's ;  distance  from  each  other,  sixty  miles. 
The  troops  destined  for  Defiance  amounted  to  about  two 
thousand.  On  the  22d  of  September,  they  marched  cau- 
tiously in  three  divisions,  the  baggage  being  in  the  centre, 
and  a  company  of  spies,  under  captain  Ballat>d,  protected 
by  Garrard's  troop  of  dragoons,  about  one  or  two  nriles  in 
front.  As  it  wai  necessary  to  guard  against  surprise  from 
a  watchful  enemy,  whose  principal  it  is,  to  as&ault  his  foe 
whilst  sleeping,  they  encamped  each  day  at  tiiree  o'clock, 
and  threw  up  breastworks  around  the  tents,  at  the  distance 
of  about  twenty  paces.  On  the  fourth  day's  march,  ensign 
Ligett  of  the  regulars,  and  four  of  the  volunteers,  pro- 
posed, and  were  permitted  to  go  forward  and  discover  the 
strength  and  situation  of  the  enemy  at  Defiance,  which  was 
then  distant  about  twenty  five  miles.  But  their  enterprise, 
which  was  too  hazardous  for  any  but  experienced  men, 
entirely  failed.  These  adventurous  young  men  were  as- 
sailed on  the  night  of  the  25th,  and  though  they  defended 
themselves  until  their  strength  was  exhausted,  were  over- 
powered, killed,  tom-hawked,  and  ecalped  in  the  usual 
barbarous  manner  of  the  Indians. 

On  the  27th,  captain  Ballard,  who  was  reputed  in  that 
army  for  his  courage  and  prudence,  was  ordered  to  go 
out  with  his  company  of  spies,  supported  by  forty  of 
Garrard's  dragoons,  and  bury  the  bodies  of  the  young 
men,  whose  death  was  now  known  of  in  the  camp.  When 
within  about  two  miles  of  the  spot  where  they  had  been 
killed,  Ballard  discovered  an  Indian  ambuscade,  but  as  he 
had  marched  his  men  in  two  divisions,  placing  one  on  each 
side  of  an  Indian  trace,  through  which  the  enemy  supposed 
the  volunteers  would  advance,  the  ambuscade  became 
useless,  and  the  Indians  succeeded  in  gaining  an  eminence; 
whilst  they  were  forming,  captain  Ballard  gave  them  a 
galling  fire,  which  they  immediately  returned,  accompani- 
ed by  a  loud  and  terrific  yell.  Ballard  ordered  up  the  horse, 
and  charged  upon,  and  put  them  to  the  route.  Pursuit 
was  given,  but  the  enemy  knew  the  country  better  than 
the  dragoons,  and  escaped  into  the  swamps  and  thickets, 

to  him  for  protection.  Several  members  of  his  own  family  were 
among  th<'  voluntee  s,  and  one  of  his  brothers,  was  one  of  the 
three  men  killed  at  the  siege  of  fort  Wayne. 


Rtest  possible 
i  advanced  to 
m  head  ^uar- 
',  sixty  miles, 
to  about  two 
marched  cau- 
inthe  centre, 
i**d,  protected 
r  two  nriles  in 
surprise  from 
is&ault  his  foe 
three  o'clock, 
it  the  distance 
inarch,  ensigin 
lunteers,  pro- 
l  discover  the 
ce,  which  was 
eir  enterprise, 
rienced  men, 
men  were  as- 
hey  defended 
?d,  were  over- 
i  in  the  usual 

puted  in  that 
Drdered  to  go 

by  forty  of 
of  the  young 
;amp.  When 
bey  had  been 
ide,  but  as  be 
g  one  on  each 
;my  supposed 
cade  became 
an  eminence; 
gave  them  a 
1,  accompani- 
l  up  the  horse, 
lUte.  Pursuit 
y  better  than 

and  thickets, 


53 

with  the  loss  of  four  or  five  wounded.    No  injury  of  con- 
sequence enough  to  name  was  sustained  by  the  volunteers. 

On  the  28th,  Ballard's  spies  were  again  sent  forward, 
and  discovered  a  fresh  trail  of  Indians.  On  communica- 
ting which  to  the  general,  he  ordered  twenty  troopers  to 
cross  the  river  to  ascertain  whether  the  waggons  could 
pass,  and  on  finding  a  tolerable  ford,  the  whole  army  cros- 
sed about  five  miles  above  fort  Defiance,  and  encamped 
on  its  bank.  At  one  hundred  yards  from  the  edge  of  the 
river,  another  trail  was  discovered,  when  captain  Garrard 
was  despatched,  with  twenty  of  his  troops,  to  proceed  and 
ascertain  by  whom  it  was  made.  Three  miles  below 
general  Winchester's  encampment,  and  two  miles  above 
Defiance,  the  enemy  were  observed  to  be  encamped  in 
large  numbers,  with  war  poles  erected  and  the  bloody  flag 
flying.  When  the  army  commenced  its  march  fr'mi  fort 
Wayne,  the  troops  were  provided  with  six  days  rations 
only,  but  colonel  Jenning's  regiment  was  to  meet  them 
with  provisions  at  fort  Defiance.  At  a  certain  point  on 
the  jiux  Olaize,  the  colonel  was  directed  to  halt  an<l  erect 
a  block  house,  which  having  done,  he  ascertained  by  his 
spies,  that  the  British  and  Indians  were  encamped  near  the 
fort,  and  without  reinforcements  it  would  have  been  im- 
prudent to  have  proceeded  further.  Late  on  the  night  of 
the  29th,  he  therefore  forwarded  an  express  to  general 
Winchester,  to  make  known  his  situation,  forty  miles 
above  fort  Defiance ;  and  as  the  troops  were  now  nearly 
starving,  captain  Garrard  proceeded  with  great  despatch  to 
colonel  Jemiing's  regiment,  to  escort  with  his  dragoons, 
a  brigade  of  packhorses  with  provisions  for  their  relief, 
and  effected  a  hazardous  tour  in  thirty-six  hours,  though 
all  the  time  drenched  with  incessant  rain. 

General  Winchester,  seeing  that  his  force  was  far  in- 
ferior to  that  of  the  newly  discovered  enemy,  and  finding 
himself  in  their  immediate  vicinity,  despatched  expresses 
to  general  Harrison  at  the  St.  Marys,  to  obtain  reinft)rce- 
ments,  and  to  apprize  him  of  the  situation  of  the  left  wing. 
Expecting  the  required  relief  in  a  few  days,  he  put  his  en- 
campment in  a  state  of  defence,  by  fortifying  himself  on 
the  front  and  sides,  and  kept  out  reconnoitering  parties, 
who  were  to  communicate  with  him,  the  moment  thift  ene- 
my should  come  Out  to  aUack  him.  On  the  other  nd, 
the  enemy  had  possession  of  fort  Defiance,  and  wcao  re- 
pairing and  enlarging  its  armament. 


CHAPTER  V- 

BrUish  evMuaieforl  Defiance^Death  of  LoganSaitle 
m  the  Mtsstssinewa-^Left  mng  of  the  army  moves  from 
Defiance,  to  the  lUipids— excursion  of  the  Kentucky  trn- 
gade  into  Indiana.  ^ 

GENERAL  HARRISON,  on  receiving  general  Win- 
chester s  despatch,  immediately  took  up  his  march  with 
general  Tapper's  mounted  men,  and  arrived  at  the  en- 
campment near  Defiance,  when  he  moved  forward  with 
the  whole  force  to  attack  that  fort.  But  the  British  and 
Indians  had  evacuated  it,  as  soon  as  they  heard  of  his 
approach,  and  taking  away  the  cannon  with  which  they 
had  increased  the  armament,  proceeded  down  the  Miami 
to  the  rapids.  The  mounted  men  were  ordered  to  pursue 
the  retreating  enemy,  and  to  destroy  their  encampnlent  at 
that  place;  and  general  Harrison  left  fort  Defiance,  on  tJic 
6th,  to  jom  the  right  wing  of  the  army,  and  to  concentrate 
the  whole  at  the  appointed  rendezvous,  at  the  Miami  of 
the  Lak-3.  After  his  departure,  genera!  Winchester  coun- 
termanded the  order  (o  general  Tupper,  and  the  expedi- 
tion against  the  Indians  at  the  rapids,  was  consequently 
trustrated.  "^ 

Until  the  contemplated  concentration  could  be  affected, 
no  movement  could  be  made  which  would  promote  the 
ultimate  object  of  the  campaign,  and  the  troops  at  fort 
Defiance,  which  now  assumed  the  name  of  fort  Winches- 
ter, remained  in  that  garrison  until  the  14th  of  December. 

In  this  interval,  Logan,  with  about  thirty  friendly  In- 
dians, attempted  to  examine  the  movements  and  situation 
of  the  enemy  on  the  Miami,  where  his  party  was  discover- 
ed and  dispersed.  Logan  and  six  of  ihem  returned,  the 
remainder  escaped  in  another  direction. 

On  the  22d  of  November,  he  was  again  ordered  bv  ce- 
i5-_ic:  TT  ixivs:v-K.Lv-s,  lo  ;aKe  ino  iiiuiaiib  ttiiu  go  iorwaru  to 
make  discoveries.    Early  in  the  day,  they  were  inet  and 


fiance,  on  tlic 


66 

captured  by  the  celebrated  hostile  chief,  Wyucmack,  and  a 
party  of  five  Indians.  Logan  resorted  to  a  stratagem,  by 
which  he  persuaded  Wynemack^  that  he  had  come  to  join 
him,  and  he  and  his  two  men  were  therefore  allowed  to  car- 
ry  their  arms  and  march  in  front.  Logan  having  communi- 
cated to  his  comrades  his  determination  to  rescue  himself 
or  perish  in  the  effort,  they  suddenly  turned  upon  their 
enemy  on  the  first  opportunity,  and  each  bi-ought  his  man 
to  Uie  ground;  Wynemack  being  among  them.  The  re- 
maining three  fired  in  return,  shot  Logan  and  one  of  his 
Indians  and  retired.  Logan  exchanged  the  shot,  notwith- 
standing his  wound  was  mortal,  and  springing  with  his 
wounded  com{)amon  upon  the  horses  of  two  of  those 
whom  they  had  just  killed,  whilst  his  third  man  protected 
him  in  his  retreat,  he  returned  to  fort  Winchester.  On 
the  28th,  he  died,  with  the  firmness  of  a  brave  warrior, 
sincerely  regretted  by  the  whole  garrison,  who  knew  him 
to  be  a  distinguished,  and  considered  him  an  useful  leader. 
At  Franklinton,  general  Harrison  was  actively  employed 
in  forwarding  ammunition,  pieces  of  ordnance,  ordnance 
stores,  provisions,  &U5.  and  arranging  depots  for  their  re- 
ception on  the  road,  which  was  deeignated  for  the  right 
wing  of  the  array. 

On  the  18th  of  November,  he  sent  lieut.  coJ.  J.  B.  Camp- 
bell with  a  detachment  of  six  hundred  men  on  an  expedi- 
tion against  the  Indians  of  the  Miami  tribes,  residing  in  the 
Mississinewa  towns.  Ob  themornuig  of  the  17th  Decem- 
ber the  detachment  charged  on  the  first  of  those  towns 
drove  the  Indians  across  the  Mississinewa  River,  killed  se- 
ven warriors,  and  took  37  prisoners.  During  this  contest 
a  part  of  the  detachment  was  sent  to  the  other  towns 
which  were  immediately  evacuated  by  the  inhabitants! 
^d  soon  after  destroyed  by  the  detachment,  which 
then  returned  to  the  ground  first  occupied.  On  the  morn- 
ing of  the  1 8th,  at  day  light,  the  camp  was  attacked  by  a 
number  of  Indians^  of  the  Miami  and  Delaware  tribes,  a- 
mounting  to  about  three  hundred.  The  attack  commen- 
ced on  the  right  of  the  Une,  which  was  occupied  by  major 
Ball  s  squadron  of  horse,  who  gallantly  con  jnded  against 
toem  for  one  hour,  and  sustained  almost  the  whole  con- 
flict.    The  Indians  then  fell  back,  and  were  courageouslv 

Kentucky  dragoons.    In  this  charge,  captain  Trotter  was 

F2 


"•■'.,^.. 


56 


M 


::i 


wounded  in  the  hand :  the  Indians  fled  with  great  velocity, 
and  were  pursued  as  far  as  was  thought  prudent.  Captain 
Pierce,  of  the  -Zanesville  troop,  was  killed,  whilst  he 
was  charging  the  foe.  Lieutenant  Waltz  was  shot 
through  the  arm,  but  being  resolved  on  losing  no  share  of 
honor,  he  remounted  his  horse,  and  in  that  act  was  killed 
by  a  shot  through  the  {head.  He  was  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania volunteers.  Captains  Markle  and  M'Clelland  of  the 
same  corps,  aud  captains  Garrard  and  Hopkins  were  com- 
plimented by  the  commanding  general.  Lieutenant  colo- 
nel Simmerall,  major  McDowell,  and  captains  Hite  and 
Smith,  are  said  to  have  distinguished  themselves  with  per- 
severing bravery ;  and  the  whole  detachment,  exhibiting 
throughout  a  great  degree  of  patience,  fortitude  and  cool- 
ness, rendered  the  victory  more  honourable  to  the  Ame- 
rican arms.,  by  respecting  the  high  and  inestimabie  princi- 
ples of  humanity,  iuid  rendering  them,  as  they  ever  ought 
to  be,  inseparable  from  bravery.  The  general's  orders, 
on  their  departure,  were  to  that  eflfect,  and  the  most  rigid 
obedience  was  paid  to  ihem.  The  battle  being  ended, 
and  the  object  of  the  expedition  completely  accomplished, 
Colonel  Campbell  took  up  his  march  for  Greenville  on 
his  return,  having  first  forwarded  an  express  for  reinforce- 
ments, Tecwnseh  being  reported  to  be  in  the  neighbour- 
hood with  five  hundred  warriors,  and  the  name  of  Tecum- 
seh  had  now  become  terrible.  If  the  detachment  should  be 
intercepted,  an  obstinate  engagement  must  follow,  nnd  by 
the  morning  report  of  the  24th,  three  hundred  and  three  of 
the  men  were  rend«red  unfit  for  duty,  by  being  frost-btiten; 
an  attack  from  a  superior  body  of  Indians  could  not  there- 
fore be  sustained  with  any  prospect  of  success.  The  de- 
f  achment  reached  Greenville,  however,  without  being  once 
molested,  and  the  citizens  received  the  troops  with  marks 
of  admiration  for  their  gallantry,  and  for  the  lustre  which 
<hey  had  thrown  upon  the  northwestern  army.  In  the 
^festruction  of  the  first  town,  the  American  loss  was  one 
killed  and  one  wounded.  In  the  action  of  the  following 
morning,  eight  killed  and  twenty  five  wounded;  the  In- 
dian loss  in  killed  was  known  to  be  forty,  the  number  of 
wounded  could  not  be  ascertained.  The  prisoners  wer? 
brought  away  by  tlie  detachment  It  has  been  thought  to 
be  unaccountable,  that  th<R  Indians  did  not  attack  the  de- 
tachment in  its  reirogade  raovement,  but  this  circuroR'ajace 


jreat  velocity, 
dent.  Captain 
ed,  whil&t  he 
iltz  was  shot 
fig  no  share  of 
act  was  killed 
the  Pennsyl- 
llelland  of  the 
ins  were  cora- 
;utenant  colo- 
iins  Hite  and 
Ives  with  per- 
>nt,  exhibiting 
ude  and  cool- 
3  to  the  Ame- 
imabie  princi- 
sy  ever  ought 
teral's  orders, 
he  most  rigid 
being  ended, 
iccomplished, 
Sreenville  on 
for  reinforce- 
be  neighbour- 
me  of  Tecum- 
lent  should  be 
follow,  nnd  by 
[1  and  three  of 
ig  frost-btiten; 
>uldnotthere- 
jss.  The  de- 
mt  being  once 
)s  with  marks 
;  lustre  which 
•my.  In  the 
loss  was  one 
the  following 
nded;  the  In- 
he  number  of 
risoners  wer^ 
en  thought  to 
attack  the  ds- 
circuroR-ajace 


57 

may  be  attributed  to  the  loss  of  their  prophet,  whom  it  is 
supposed  by  many,  was  killed  in  the  second  engagement. 

Notwithstanding  the  season  was  already  so  far  advanced, 
and  the  difficulties  in  marching  against  the  enemy  were 
every  day  increasing,  general  Harrison  was  too  steadily 
determined  on  the  recovery  of  Michigan,  and  the  subju- 
gation of  Maiden  and  the  country  surrounding  it,  to  be 
put  aside  from  his  views  by  any  such  obstacles.  Every 
implement  was  provided  which  might  possibly  be  neces- 
sary, the  military  stores  and  trains  of  artillery  were  already 
at  the  different  depots,  and  the  troops  from  Pennsylvania 
being  at  Mansfield,  those  from  Virginia  at  Delaware,  and 
those  from  Ohio  at  fort  M* Arthur,  the  purposed  concen- 
tration could  be  almost  immediately  effected.  General 
Winchester  with  <l^e  left  wing,  moved  from  fort  Winches- 
ter to  the  rapids,  in  conformity  to  the  previous  order  of 
general  Harrison,  who  was  now  commissioned  a  major 
general  in  the  army  of  the  United  States,  and  appointed 
to  the  command  of  the  northwestern  army.  A  line  of 
posts  was  to  be  established,  and  strong  fortifications  erect- 
ed as  intermediate  places  of  rendezvous,  at  equal  distances 
between  Defiance  and  Detroit;  and  that  he  might  with 
more  convenience  superintend  the  building  of  these,  the 
commander  in  chief  fixed  his  head  quarters  at  Upper  San- 
dusky. 

A  brigade  of  Eentuckians  had  been  sent  into  the 
Indiana  Territory,  under  general  Samuel  Hopkins,  with 
instructions  to  attack  every  settlement  on  the  Wabash,  and 
then  to  fall  upon  the  Illinois.  On  the  11th  November  they 
marched  from  fort  Harrison,  with  a  view  to  the  destruction 
of  the  Prophet's  town.  Seven  boats,  with  provisions,  fo- 
rage and  military  stores,  commanded  by  colonel  Barbour, 
accompanied  the  expedition,  and  the  troops  marched  on 
the  east  side  of  the  Wabash,  to  protect  them,  until  the 
19th,  when  they  reached  the  town,  and  were  engaged 
three  days  in  the  destruction  of  it,  and  a  large  Kickapoo 
village  adjoining,  while  general  Butler  with  three  hundred 
men,  surrounded  and  destroyed  the  Wynebago  town  on 
the  Ponce-passu  creek:  each  of  these  towns  had  been 
abandoned  by  the  Indian  warriors,  and  a  small  party  was 
sent  out  to  reconnoitre  the  surrounding  woods,  and  to 
seek  out  their  hiding  places.  Several  Indians  shewed 
themselves,  fired  On  the  party,  kiiied  one  man  and  com- 


.^^: 


68 

pelled  the  otfeefs  to  retire.  Tliis  oecurreaee  was  no  soon- 
er mad»  known  to  the  troops,  than  sixty  horeeraen  offer- 
ed to  proceed  to  th©  ground  to  bury  their  companion,  and 
to  encounter  the  enemy.     When  they  attained  the  point, 
near  the  Indian  encampment,  tiiey  were  fired  upon  from 
an  ambuscade,  and  eighteen  of  the  party  were  killed  and 
wounded,  among  them,  several  promiBing  young  officers. 
The  enemy  bad  taken  possession  of  a  strong  defensive 
position,  in  which  there  was  no  hope  of  effectually  assail- 
ing him,  having  a  deep  rapid  creek  in  its  rear  in  the  form  of 
a  semicircle,  and  being  fronted  by  a  high  and  ahnost  per- 
pendicular bluff  of  one  hundred  feet  which  could  only  be 
penetrated  by  three  steep  ravines.     The  death  of  these 
gallant  young  men,  excited  a  spirit  of  revenge  among 
the  troops,  and  they  moved  forward  u|der  a  heavy  fall  of 
snow,  determined  to  attack  the  enemy  m  his  strong  hold, 
at  every  risk.     But  on  arriving  at  the  place,  they  found 
thai  the  Indians  had  evacuated  it  and  crossed  over  Ponce- 
passu  on  their  retreat.  Tl»re  being  now  no  certain  point  to 
which  tlie  operations  of  the  troops  could  be  directed,  ge- 
neral Hopkins  gave  orders  for  their  return  to  fort  Barrisov, 
where  they  arrived,  after  an  absence  of  sixteen  days,  ha- 
ving in  that  time  traversed  one  hundred  mile*  of  a  coun- 
try, of  which,  to  use  the  words  of  their  commander,  they 
had  no  cognizance. 


CHAPTER   VI. 


Ammcan  forces  on  the  Niagara  and  St.  Lamence—An 
affair  upon  the  latter—Expedition  against  Gananoque-— 
Bombardment  of  Ogdensburg— Attack  upon  it—Dispo- 
sttton  of  the  forces  on  the  Niagara-^Description  of 
qtteenstonn— Battle  of  queenstonm  Heights— Death  of 
General  Brock— Defeat  of  the  American  forces— Can- 
nonade between  fort  George  and  fort  Niagara— An  af 
Jrnr  below  Ogdensburg— Pike's  incursion  into  Canada- 
Bombardment  effort  Niagara— Capture  of  the  enemy's 
Afl^g-^^fi  at  St.  Regis— General  Smyth's  proclamatim^— 
Ihe  British  batteries  opposite  Black  Rock  stormed  and 
cam£d— Abandoned  by  the  Americans,  they  open  a  fire 
en  the  battery  at  tlie  Rock,  '' 

WHILST  these  events  were  transpiring  in  the  western 
department  of  the  union,  dispositions  had  been  made,  and 
troops  collected  at  the  different  stations  along  the  Niagara 
river,  from  the  lake  Erie  to  the  lake  Ontario;  and  beyond 
the  latter,  along  the  shore  of  the  St  Lawrence.  Excur- 
sions from  the  American  to  the  British  shores  of  the  rivers 
had  been  frequently  made,  and  on  some  occasions,  were 
followed  by  smart  skirmishes.  The  chief  command  of 
these  forces  was  given  to  major  general  Dearborn.  The 
immediate  command  of  the  troops  on  the  Niagara,  to  ma- 
jor general  Van  Rensselaer,  of  the  militia  of  the  state  of 
New  York.  Brigadier  general  Smyth  was  stationed  at 
Black  Rock.  The  troops  on  the  St  Lawrence  were  prin- 
cipally garnsoned  at  Ogdensburg,  and  commanded  by 
bngadier  general  Brown,  also  of  the  New  York  militia. 

^^  ???  ^^  September,  twenty-five  British  boats 
passed  Madnd,  up  the  St.  Lawrence,  laden  with  military 
stores  and  munitions  of  war.   About  one  hundred  and  forty 

of  the  milihn  frnm  OiTfli  «c.K., a  xt mj  .  ...  •' 

-  „ 6,-.vi.^„uij^  aiiu  «uiniiion,  wim  one  v\n\ 

boat  posted  themselves  on  an  island  to  obstruct  their  pas- 


);!l!  lilWIlll 


60 

sage.  The  enemy  approaching  fhe  head  of  the  rivtr, 
brought  himself  immediately  in  front  of  this  island,  when 
a  rapid  and  well  directed  fire  made  him  ply  for  the  oppo- 
site shore,  where  he  took  shelter  in  the  woods.  The  mi- 
litia had  no  small  boats  ^f^  jinrnm-  the  flying  squadron,  and 
the  British  had  time  toiraUv,  'o  procure  assistance,  and  to 
return  to  a  contest.  Thir  thiy  did,  with  little  delay,  and 
after  an  action  of  three  hours,  they  were  reinforced  by  two 
gun  boats  and  a  large  body  of  men  from  Prescott.  The 
militia  being  then  outnumbered,  their  ammunition  nearly 
exhausted,  and  their  loss  one  man  killed  •'»»'l  *wo  wound- 
ed, abandoned  the  enterprise,  and  uoireated  to  their  re- 
spective quarters.  The  injury  sustained  by  the  enemy 
has  uever  been  known. 

^  Captain  Forsyth  of  the  rifle  regiment,  being  at  the  gar- 
rison of  Ogdensburg,  projected  an  expedition  against  a 
sinall  village  in  the  town  of  Leeds,  in  Canada,  called  Oor 
namque.     In  this  village  was  the  king'»  store  house,  con- 
taining immense  quantities  of  arms  and  ammunitior' ;  and 
eaptain  Forsyth  was  resolved  on  its  destruction.     In  the 
Bight  of  the  20th  instant,  therefore,  a  number  of  boats  be- 
ing provided,  he  embarked  with  seventy  of  his  own  men, 
ftnd  thirty-four  militia  men.     Before  daylight  of  the  21st, 
they  reached  the  Canadian  shore,  and  landed  unobserved 
at  a  little  distance  from  the  village.  The  enemy  soon  after 
discovered  them,  and  they  were  tired  on  by  a  party  of 
one  hundred  and  twetny-^ve  regulars  and  militia.   Forsyth 
drew  up  his  men  and  returned  their  fire  with  such  effect, 
that  the  British  retreated  in  disorder,  and  were  pursued  to 
the  village,  where  they  rallied  and  resolved  on  making  a 
stand,  and  disputing  the  passage  of  a  bridge.     An  action 
took  place  here,  which  resulted  in  the  same  manner  as  the 
former.     The  enemy  again  fled,  making  his  escape  over 
the  bridge,  and  leaving  ten  of  his  number  killed,  eight  re- 
gulars and  several  militia  men  prisoners,  and  the  Tillage 
and  store  house  in  possession  of  the  American  party. 
Captain  Forsyth  lost  one  in  killed  and  one  wounded.  After 
releasing  the  militia  prisoners  on  their  parole,  and  taking 
out  a  quantity  of  arms,  fixed  ammunition,  powder,  flints, 
and  other  articles  of  public  property,  and  setthig  fire  to 
the  store  house,  he  returned  to  Cape  Vincent  with  these, 
and  the  eight  regulars  prisoners. 

In  retaliation  for  this  daring  exploit,  the  enemy  deters 


of  the  ri\l»r, 
B  inland,  when 
'  for  the  oppo- 
[)d8.  The  mi- 
squadroD,  and 
istance,  and  to 
Ltle  delay,  and 
iforced  by  two 
rescott.  The 
unition  nearly 
''.  *'wo  wound- 
Jd  to  their  re- 
»y  the  enemy 

ing  at  the  gar- 
tion  against  a 
da,  called  Ca- 
re house,  con- 
munitiop ;  and 
;tion.  In  the 
jr  of  boats  be- 
his  own  men, 
it  of  the  21st, 
id  unobserved 
my  soon  after 

by  a  party  of 
litia.  Forsyth 
:h  such  eflecf, 
5re  pursued  to 

on  making  a 
).  An  action 
manner  as  the 
s  escape  over 
lied,  eight  re- 
nd the  Tillage 
lerican  party, 
lunded.  After 
[e,  and  taking 
)0wder,  flints, 
setting  fire  to 
at  with  these, 

enemy  deter* 


<^1 

mined  on  attacking  and  destroying  tlie  town  of  Ogdenj- 
burg.  Opposite  to  this  is  situated  the  Canadian  village 
of  Pre?  Dtt,  before  which  the  British  bad  a  strot.g  line 
of  breastworks.  On  the  2d  of  October,  they  opened  a 
heavy  cannonading  on  the  town  from  their  batteries,  and 
continuetl  to  bombard  it  with  little  intermission  until  the 
night  of  the  3d:  one  or  two  buildings  only  were  injured. 
On  Sunday,  the  4tli,  having  prepared  forty  boats,  with 
from  ten  to  fifteen  armed  men  in  each,  they  advanced 
with  six  pieces  of  artillery,  to  storm  the  town.  General 
Brown  jmmanded  at  Ogtlensbnrg  in  person,  and  when 
the  enemy  had  advanced  within  a  short  distance,  he  or- 
dered his  troops  to  open  a  warm  fire  upon  them.  The 
British,  nevertheless,  steadily  approached  the  shore,  and 
ke|)t  up  their  fire  for  two  hours  ;  during  which,  they  sus- 
tamed  the  galling  fire  of  the  Americans,  until  one  of  their 
boats  was  taken,  and  two  others  so  shattered,  that  their 
crews  were  obliged  to  abandon  them;  they  th(  n  rehn- 
quished  the  assault  and  fled  to  Prescott.  There  has  been 
wo  engagement,  perhaps,  which  exhibited  more  ffallantrr 
on  both  sides.  ' 

The  success  of  the  detachment  which  had  proceeded 
agamst  the  brigs  Detroit  and  Caledonia,  on  the  9th  Octo- 
ber, excited  a  strong  spirit  of  enterprise  among  the  troops 
at  the  ditferent  stations  along  the  Niagara  The  whole 
number  under  the  command  of  general  Van  Rensselaer 
amounted,  as  it  is  said,  to  five  thousand  eight  hundred' 
and  were  disposed  of  in  the  following  manner  Two 
thousand  and  nine  hundred,  with  which  he  was  himself 
stationed,  at  and  near  Lewistown.  Thirteen  hundred  re- 
gulars, under  general  Smyth,  near  Black  Rock,  distance 
from  Lewistown,  twenty  eight  miles.  Five  hundred  mi- 
litia and  volunteers  at  Black  Rock  and  Schlosser  Six 
companies  of  field  and  light  artillery,  (three  hundred)  and 
about  five  huftdred  of  the  eth  and  13th  regiments  and 
NiTgara"""''^  «f  the  23d,  u,v  er  major  Mullanrat  fort 

The  general  was^)rp=sed  from  all  quarters  to  dve  the 
troops  an  opportunity  of  distinguishing  themselves  ,•  and  his 
own  opmion  was  that  the  crisis  of  the  campaign  was  rapid! 

f  mf  f  ,?"|',*"*^' «'  h«  informed  the  commander  in  chief 
Ihat  the  blow  must  be  soon  struck,  or  fhp  tnij  ^^j  .J 


62 


Under  tliese  circumBtances,  ftnd  influenced  by  thebe 
impressions,  he  ordered  the  regulars,  under  lieulciiant  co- 
lonel Penwick  and  major  Mullany,  to  leave  fort  Niagara, 
and  proceed  to  his  head  quarters  at  Lewistown.  The 
same  orders  were  issued  to  general  Sniythjs  brigade.— 
When  the  British  general  Brock  had  made  arrangements 
for  the  civil  government  of  Michigan,  and  had  appointed 
Buch  officers  as  he  thought  necessary  to  its  administration, 
he  transferred  the  command  of  Detroit  to  colonel  Proctor, 
and  moved  his  own  quarters  to  fort  George,  that  he  might 
facilitate  the  preparations  on  the  Niagara  frontier.  But 
general  Van  Rensselaer  received  intelligence,  which  was 
thought  to  warrant  a  movement  into  Canada,  and  was  at 
the  same  time  informed,  that  general  Brock  had  returned 
to  Detroit,  upon  hearing  of  the  preparations  in  the  west 
for  the  recovery  of  that  post ;  and  had  taken  with  him 
such  troops  as  could  with  safety  be  spared  from  fort  Erie 
and  fort  George.  He  therefore  promised  his  army,  that 
they  should  cross  over  and  act  against  Queenstown;  and 
it  was  for  this  purpose  that  the  regulars  were  ordered  from 
fort  Niagara  and  the  rock.  The  possession  of  Queenstown 
was  important  to  the  success  of  the  American  arms  in 
Canada,  in  this,  or  in  any  future  campaign.  It  is  a  hand- 
some town,  below  the  falls  of  Niagara,  at  the  head  of  the 
navigable  waters  of  that  strait,  and  immediately  oppo- 
site Lewistown ;  a  place  of  depot  for  the  merchandize 
for  all  the  country  above,  and  for  the  public  stores,  for  the 
line  of  posts  along  the  Niagara  and  Detroit  rivers.  It 
has  an  excellent  harbour,  and  good  anciiorage;  the  banks 
on  both  sides  are  elevated,  and  the  landscape  is  among 
the  most  splendid  and  sublime. 

It  was  intended,  that  tiie  attack  on  Queenstown  should 
be  made  in  the  morning  of  the  1 1th,  at  3  o'clock,  and  the 
embarkation  was  to  take  place  from  the  old  ferry,  oppo- 
site the  heights,  to  which  situation,  experienced  boatmen 
were  employed  to  navigate  the  boats  from  the  landing 
below.  The  river  here  is  one  sheet  of  violent  eddies,  and 
an  officer,  who  was  considered  to  be  the  most  skilful  for 
such  a  service,  was  sent  ahead;  but  in  the  extreme  dark- 
ness of  the  night,  passed  the  intended  point  of  embarka- 
tion, far  up  the  river,  and  very  unaccountably,  fastened  his 
boat,  containing  nearly  all  the  oars  of  the  other  boats,  to 
the  shore,  and  abandoned  the  detachment.    The  ardour 


;cl  by  thebe 
gutciiaiit  co- 
ort  Niagara, 
town.  The 
I  brigade. — 
rrangements 
d  appointed 
ninistration., 
nel  Proctor, 
lat  he  might 
)ntier.  But 
,  which  was 
and  was  at 
lad  returned 
in  the  west 
n  with  him 
►m  fort  Erie 
I  army,  that 
istown;  and 
rdered  from 
^ueenstown 
an  arms  in 
It  is  a  hand- 
head  of  the 
ately  oppo- 
lerchandize 
ires,  for  the 
rivers.  It 
;  the  banks 
»e  is  among 

own  should 
ck,  and  the 
erry,  oppo- 
?d  boatmen 
the  landing 
eddies,  and 
t  skilful  for 
:reme  dark- 
>f  embarka- 
fastened  his 
5r  boats,  to 
rhe  ardour 


"^  63 

tV^df^'T  ^1**  T°  '""  "°*  **^«  ^"""^^  abated  (hrongh 
llh^  f'  ."""""^^  i*?Y  ""^'^  *'*^'««^'»  to  a  tremendous 
northeast  storm,  which  prevailed  for  twentv-eiirht  hn.ir« 
and  in  that  time  deluged  the  whole  camr^B^ 
were  mortified   by   this  distressing  dilemma,  and   tha 
appeanince  of  daylight  having  extinguished  e;e?ypros 
pect  of  success,  the  detachments  returned  to  lainp  aTd 
an  express  was  sent  to  Black  Rock  to  countermZi^P 
orders  to  general  Smyth.      The  miscarrge  ofX tkn 

troop?  al  [hpf' •'*  ''r  I?  '"^^^^^^^  *^^  ardour  ofT 
troops,  and  they  impatiently  awaited  for  the  arrival  of 

t^^^"^'-7';K*'-  "^""'^^  **""«  ^^'^'^  i"*«  personal  oppose 
made It^arff'T"^-  ,  ^'■'•«"g-»«nts^ere  therefore 
maile  to  that  effect,  and  the  night  of  the  12th  was  d*»- 

an  )^,ef «  \t    'h  ""f  "•■.  '^'"""*   ^«»  Rensselaer,    anS 
lie  Ch  i  1  w'  ^T^'""^  '''^"'*"'  "»^«''  lieutenant  colo 
•were  D  ovil^r"  ?  ?*''  ""'''  ^^S*^"'^''-     '^''"•"t^^n  boats 
sTo  ?irr.     •  T    **"'  *^""^«3^«n«e.  and  when  the  heights 
9  ould  be  earned,  lieutenant  colonel  Fenwick's  flvini  ar 
^llery  were    o  cross  over,  then  major  Mullany's  Set 

t-aily  m  the  night,  colonel  Christie  marched  his  ,\J^X' 
men  by  the  rear  road  from  Niagara  to  camp     At  7  i^fh 

H  niist  these  preparations  were  eoinff  forwarrl   th^  n  • 

had  scarcely  put  off  from  the  C^^TmoIL^*' 
-     ,.  ,,..^..,wiiC5  iiiayea  with  great  seyeritj 


a 


severity  upon  <h»boatsT 


»*;■ 


f  ...: 


64 


Lieut,  col.  Scolt,  of  the  artillery,  who  had  marched  with 
uncommon  expedition  from  Niagara  Falls,  arrived  in 
time  to  participate  the  enemy's  fire,  with  two  six  pounders. 
The  eddies  in  the  river  were  violent;  the  shot  from  the 
enemy  fe!l  in  heavy  showers  on  the  boats,  and  the  diffi* 
culty  of  combatting  the  former,  and  avoiding  the  latter, 
not  only  embarrassed  the  officers,  but  put  many  of  the  oars- 
men into  confusion.  A  grape  shot  from  a  battery  below 
Qeenstown,  which  enfiladed  the  place  of  crossing,  struck 
the  boat  in  which  was  lieutenant  colonel  Christie,  wound- 
ed him  in  the  hand,  and  alarmed  the  pilot  and  boatmen 
so,  that  the  boat  fell  below  the  intended  place  of  landing 
and  was  obliged  to  return.  The  boats  in  which  major 
Mullany  followed  the  two  columns,  fell  also  below  the 
point,  two  of  them  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  and  the 
mjijor  returned.  But  colonel  Van  Rensselaer,  who  com- 
manded the  whole  detachment,  and  whose  boats  formed 
the  van,  moved  to  the  enemy's  shore,  succeeded  in  touch- 
ing it  at  the  designated  place,  and  effected  the  landing  of 
the  van,  consisting  of  one  hundred  men,  under  a  tremen- 
dous fire,  directed  upon  him  from  every  point.  In  ascend- 
ing the  banks,  the  colonel  received  four  bails.  Captain 
Armstrong,,  captain  Malcolm,  and  captain  Wool,  were 
wovnded,  and  ensign  Morris  was  killed.  Lieutenant  Val- 
lance  was  killed  in  crossing.  A  party  of  the  British  then 
issued  from  an  old  fort  below  Queenstown,  but  on  being 
fired  on  by  the  Americans,  immediately  retreated.  A 
strong  battery,  which  fjred  incessantly  upon  the  van,  o- 
bilged  it  to  retire  ukider  the  banks,  where  lay  colonel  Van 
Rensselaer,  who,  though  in  excruciating  pain,  with  great 
difficulty,  stood  up,  and  ordered  his  officers  to  proceed 
with  rapidity  and  storm  the  fort,  and  if  possible,  to  asc>,;nd 
mid  carry  the  heights.  The  men  were  instantly  rallied. 
About  sixty  of  the  most  determined,  commanded  by  cap- 
tain Ogilvie,  seconded  by  captain  Wool,  though  wounded, 
and  lieutenants  Karney,  Carr,  Hugginan  anil  Sammons, 
and  ensign  Reeve,  of  the  13th;  and  lieutenants  Gansevoort 
and  Randolph,  cautiously  mounted  the  rocks  on  the  right 
of  the  fort,  gave  tlyee  cheers,  assailed  and  reduced  it  after 
three  desperate  charges,  in  which  they  were  met  with  firm- 
ness :  they  then  carried  the  heights,  and  thus  gallantly  ex- 
ecuted the  whole  order  of  the  colonel ;  driving  the  enemy 
down  the  hill  ui  every  direction.    A  party  of  them  re- 


65 

kcated  behind  a  stone  guard-house,  where  a  piece  of  ord- 
nance was  briskly  served,  but  a  fire  from  the  battery  at 
Lewistown,  was  so  effectually  directed  upon  it,  that  it  was 
in  a  few  minutes  silenced.  The  British  then  retreated 
behind  a  large  stone  house.  The  American  artillery-meu 
were  ordered  to  turn  the  guns  of  the  fort  upon  them,  but 
lieutenant  Gansevoort  had  hastily  spiked  the  cannon,  and 
they  were  therefore  now  useless.  The  enemy's  fire  was 
silenced,  however,  with  the  exception  of  one  gun,  which 
was  out  of  reach  of  the  American  cannon ;  and  the  boats 
were  crossing,  unannoyed,  but  by  this  battery.  Re- 
inforcements arrived  after  this  brilliant  success,  under 
captain  Gibson  of  the  light  ai-tillery,  captain  M'Chesney  of 
the  6th,  and  captain  Lawrence  of  the  I3th,  infantry  ;  and 
colonels  Mead,  Stranahan,  Allen,  and  other  militia  otficers. 
At  about  10  o'clock,  the  British  line  was  re-formed,  and 
flanking  parlies  sent  out.  Lieutenant  colonel  Christie 
succeeded  in  getting  across  the  river  with  five  hundred 
men,  and  took  command.  General  Brock,  having  receiv- 
ed the  expresses  which  were  forwarded  to  him,  arrived 
at  this  moment,  at  the  head  of  a  reinforcement  of  regulars 
from  fort  George.  He  had  led  them  round  the  heights  to 
the  rear  of  the  battery,  when  captain  Wool,  detached  one 
hundred  and  sixty  men  to  meet  them.  The  detachment 
was  driven  back,  but  being  immediately  reinforced,  pres- 
sed for  ,  ard  again,  and  was  again  driven  back  to  the  brink 
of  the  precipice,  forming  the  Niagara  river  above  Queens- 
town.  Seeing  that  nothing  short  of  a  miracle  could  save 
the  detachment  from  being  henteu;  finding  that  the  party 
were  nearly  without  ammunition,  and  supposing  H  useless 
to  sacrifice  the  lives  of  brave  men,  one  of  the  ofR-'.s  ^vas 
in  the  act  of  hoisting  a  white  flag  on  a  bayonet,  when  cap^ 
tarn  Wool,  knowing,  that  if  the  men  held  out  a  short  while 
longer  they  would  be  relieved  by  reinforcements,  tore 
down  the  flag,  and  ordered  his  officers  instantly  to  rally  the 
men  and  brmg  them  to  a  charge.  At  Uiis  moment,  colonel 
t.hristie  arrived  with  such  a  reinforcement,  as  made  the 
detachment  amount  to  three  hundred  and  twenty  men  to 
wliom  he  immediately  repeated  the  orders  of  captain 
Wocl;  (whom  he  directed  tj  leave  the  ground  to  get  his 
wound  dressed,)  led  them  onto  the  charge  himself,  and 
making  a  forcible  appeal  to  ihe  bayonet,  entirely  routed 
the  British  49th  regiment  of  six  hundred  men,  and  pursu- 


# 


■41 


r 


Q6 

ed  Ihem  up  the  height  until  he  regained  the  ground  which 
the  detachment  had  just  before  lost.     Part  of  the  41  st 
were  acting  with  the  49th,  both  of  which  regiments  dis 
tinguished  themselves  under  the  same  commander  in  Eu- 
rope; and  Uie  latter  had  obtained  the  title  of  the  Egj  ptiau 

tore  been  known  to  give  ground.  General  Brock,  indig- 
nant almost  to  exasperation  at  the  flight  of  this  regimeiS, 
was  attempting  to  rally  them,  when  he  received  three 
ba  Is  at  the  same  instant,  which  immediately  termi- 
»ated  his  brave  career.  His  aid,  captain  M'Donald,  fell 
at  his  side,  mortally  wounded.  At  about  2  o'clock  in  the 
atternoon,  brigadier  general  Wadsworth  of  the  militia 
lieutenant  colonel  Scott  of  the  artillery,  and  major  Mulla- 

Slf  K^'f  ?  *^^  "y^"'  *"'^  ^^'^^  *^^  ^^^^•■a*  commands 
which  had  been  assigned  to  them.-Captain  Wool  (obeyed 
the  order  of  colonel  Christie,  crossed  over  to  Lewistown, 
had  his  wounds  dressed,  and  returned  to  the  scene  of  ac' 
tion.  General  Van  Rensselaer  had  crossed  over  to 
Queenstown,  and  considering  the  victory  complete  after 
the  repulse  of  the  49th,  and  the  death  of  general  Brock 
he  commeneed  preparations  for  encamping  in  the  enemy's 
country.  But,  in  expectation  of  further  attacks  by  other 
remioreenitnts,  he  directed  that  the  camp  should  be  im- 
mediately fortified,  and  committed  this  service  to  lieutc- 
»ant  rotten,  a  skilful  officer  of  the  engineers. 

The  enemy  was  reinforced  at  three  o'clock,  by  seve- 
ral hundred  Indians  from  Chippewa,  who,  under  the  di- 
rection of  the  British  m  the  tov/s,  commenced  a  fjirious 
Attack  upon  the  American  troops,  whose  whole  number 
cUd  not  exceed  nine  hundred  and  twenty.     As  they  ap- 
proached through  the  woods  and  an  orchard,  the  troops 
not  knowing  their  number,  at  fir.^t  faultered.    Lieutenant 
colonel  Christie,  and  lieutenant  colonel  Scott,  behaved 
with  great  coolness,  and  making  every  possible  exertion, 
led  the  men  promptly  on,  and  in  a  short  time  the  Indians 
being  routed,  fled  before  the  bayonet  and  rifle,  leavin- 
several  dead  and  one  of  their  chiefs  a  prisoner.     General 
Van  Rensselaer  observing  that  the  troops  were  embarking 
very  slowly,  and  fearing  the  necessity  of  a  strong  acces- 
sion ot  numbers,  crossed  over  to  Lewistown  durino-  the 
assault  of  the  Indians,  to  facilitate  the  movements  oT:  the 
militia^    Twelve  hundred,  and  upwards  of  them,  were 


4 


m,  were 


67 

standing  on  the  American  shore  inactive,  and  apparently, 
unconcerned  spectators  of  the  battle.     At  the  very  mo- 
ment when  victory  was  perching  on  the  banners  of  Uieir 
country ;  the  ardour  of  the  unengaged  troops  entirely  sub- 
sided, and  no  effort  could  induce  them  to  cross  the  line, 
and  share  in  the  glory  of  the  day's  triumph.   Thrice  alrea- 
dy had  Mie  battle  been  won ;  three  assaults  of  the  enemy 
had  been  vigorously  repulsed ;  and  the  conquest  of  the 
town  and  heights  must  necessarily  follow.     One  third 
part  of  the  disengaged  men  would  secure  it,  but  they 
had  witnessed  at  a  distance  the  furious  attack  of  the  In- 
dians, they  had  seen  the  botlies  of  their  wounded  fellow 
soldiers  brought  back  to  the  garrison,  and  they  refused  to 
go  furtlier  than  the  laws  of  their  country  authorized  the 
general  to  command  them.     They  claimed  the  privileges 
allowed  them  by  the  laws  of  the  country,  whose  honour 
and  renown  they  refused  to  assist  in  promoting ;  they  be- 
held as  gallant  exploits  as  the  world  perhaps  ever  kne\Vj 
but  still  they  were  not  animated  by  the  same  spirit  of  en- 
thusiasm, noi-  the  same  degree  of  valor.    Peremptory  oi^ 
ders   were  disobeyed,  solicitations  disregarded,  and  all 
argument  exhausted  to  bring  them  to  a  sense  of  that  duty, 
which  the  general  vainly  hoped,  had  urged  them  in  the 
first  instance  to  press  for  an  opportunity  to  act.    Lieute- 
nant colonel  Bloom,  who  had  been  wounded  in  one  of 
the  three  engagements,  mounted  a  horse  and  rode  among 
them  with  the  general,  but  his  example  had  no  more  effect 
than  the  general's  persuasions.    Meanwhile,  another  rein- 
foFcement  was  seen  coming  up  the  river  from  fort  George 
The  battery  on  the  hill  was  considered  as  an  important 
check  to  their  ascending  the  heights,  and  measures  were 
immediately  taken  to  send  tliem  a  fresh  supply  of  arms 
and  ammunition.  The  reinforcements,  however,  obliqued 
from  the  road  to  the  right,  and  formed  a  junction  with  the 
Indians  m  the  rear  of  the  heights.     The  American  troops 
being  scattered  m  pursuit  of  the  Indians,  lost  an  opportu- 
nity of  taking  the  reinforcing  column  as  it  approached  the 
heights,  and  were  taken  a  little  by  surprize.     Knowing 
that  the  troops  at  the  heights  must  be  nearly  exhausted, 

JiSJl  i^'C.-f  "I""'*""".^'  "^^'^^  expended;  overwhelmed 
wih  mortification  and  disappointment  at  the  refusal  of  the 
mihtia  to  cross;  and  seeing  that  another  severe  ^-onflict, 
which  the  reduced  detachment  could  not  lone  su&teia 


1 


^tJjout  great  lom,  would  very  soon  take  place,  geneial 
Van  Rensselaer  despatched  a  note  to  general  Wads^)r  h 
acquainting  h,m  vAth  the  conduct  of  the  militia, 'IS 
the  course  to  be  pursued  much  to  his  own  judgment  3 
an  assurance  that  if  he  thought  best  to  retrtaS^  e 

IuW^nr?'''\^^"'**  ^""^  °^^^  ^«  many'boa(fil    e 
could  collect,  and  cover  his  retreat  by  eve^y  Cue  whirU 

he  could  po^sjbly  make  with  safety.''    ThI  last  BH    1, 

reinforcement  amounted  to  eight  hundred  men  mLhI 

drawn  up  in  line  with  their  lijit  Se^^Tl  flanked t" 

their  Ind.wis,  at  about  4  o'clock  an  obstinate  contei^ 

Z^aCf  ^'^  r?'^  "P  ^"^  ^^^^  ««  hour,  wUha  tremen 

ous  discharge  of  fly  ng  artillery,  musquetry  and  cannon 

^nti   the  American  detachment,  finding  that  they  we  e 

fCnl  1  !     H  •     ""''*.'*  '^'^^  h^*^  »*ready  distinguishe. 
themselves,  being  unable  to  fight  longer,  deceived  ordeT 

uo  e'' wteLv  d[d -'^  ^«»  Rensselaer" 

note    which  they  did  in  good  order,  down  the  hiU  to  the 

pomt  at  which  they  had  landed.     Many  of  the  boatrhad 

been  destroyed   others  had  been  taken,  and  there  rlah 

ed  but  four  or  five  to  take  the  whole  of  the  detachmeTiUo 

Lewistown    These  were  crossing  when  the  last  afi"air  Ik 

fi^  ;»f^'lf?  ^^^^f  f"  h^^^"'"S  panic  struck,  had  fl«d 
from  their  duty,  and  the  boats  were  consequently  disper 
ed,  so  that  few  of  the  Americans  escaped  from  the  Sa  la 
shore.  In  this  distressing  dilemma,  they  were  obliged  to 
surrender  themselves  prisoners  of  war,  to  the  number  c' 
three  hundred  and  eighty-six  regulars,  and  three  hundred 

twLT:?  r^'r;"";'^^'  «-ty-two  ;f  the  regular"  1;     I 

killed  m  the  detachment  was  at  ninety.     When  the  last 
detachment  arrived  from  fort  George,  the  whole  Ameri-     ! 

.T.  TS  r'  ^r^'^to  «««.  in  three  divisions,  and 
wftounted  to  only  two  hundred  and  forty  men,  the  militia 
refusing  to  act  longer,  a^d  many  of  the  regulars  being  then 
already  wounded.  The  victorious  enemy  treated  their 
prisoners,  while  on  the  frontier,  with  the  most  generous 
tenderness,  but  for  want  of  will  or  power,  they  put  no  re- 
straint upon  their  Indian  allies,  who  were  slipping  and 
sea Ipmg  not  only  the  slain,  but  fiie  dying  that  remained 
on  the  field  of  battle.  The  lifeless  bod^  of  e«sign  Mo^L 
who  w«s  broUier  Iq  the  ajaiable  a»d  mmgmim  aaval 


♦ 


m 


69 

officer  of  that  name,  was  Ptripped  to  his  shirt,  and  hiUigaji 
ties  too  savage  to  be  recorded  were  committed  on  lils 
person.  The  body  of  general  Brock  was  committed  to 
the  grave  with  the  usual  military  honours,  and  the  guns 
at  fort  Niagara  were  fired  during  the  ceremony,  as  a  tri- 
bute of  respect  for  a  gallant  enemy. 

There  was  no  otficer  crossed  the  line,  upon  this  memora- 
ble day,  who  did  not  do  honour  to  his  country.     Colorel 
bcott  ^vas  in  full  dress,  which  with  his  tall  stature  render- 
ed him  a  conspicuous  mark  for  the  enemy- Jth«s   been 
naid  that  several  Indians,  told  him  of  their  having  shot  at 
him,  but  he  received  no  wound.    A  company  of  volunteer 
riflemen  under  lieutenant  Smith,  who  took  the  Indian  chief 
behaved  with  the  courage  of  veterans-Lieutenant  Col- 
onel tenwick  was  wounded  three  different  times,  and  each 
time  severely  ;   he  nevertheless  contiuu<.d  tightuig    and 
was  particularly  distinguished,  through  the  whole  day's  en> 
gagemen  .-Captains  Gibson,  Wool  and  M'Chesneyf  have 
been  spoken  ot  as  having  done  the  same. 

The  British  forces  in  the  different  battles,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  first,  was  at  no  time  less  than  eleven  hundred- 
in  the  last  and  fourth  engagement,  it  was  much  g  eite  ' 
Iheir  loss  is  not  known.  With  regard  to  close  an  1  rm, 
rageous  fighting  the  victory  on  this'^ccaLrMonged  to 
the  Americans;  but  with  regard  to  the  loss  which  waf  sus^ 
tamed,  it  was  exclusively  yielded  to  the  British  An  ar 
rangement  was  entered  into  on  the  14th,  by  which  a  few" 
prisoners  were  paroled,  the  remainder  were  takenTo  MoT 

Whilst  the  troops  were  embarking  at  Lewistown  in  ih^ 
morning,  the  batteries  at  fort  George  c-ned  a  rlni  T 
upon  fort  Niagara,  which  was  retilfnecl,  JrAepUrwt 
hot  shot  on  both  sides,  for  several  hours.  From  he  s^th 
block  house  of  the  An.erican  fort,  the  shot  was  princinaH  v 
directed  against  the  village  of  \ew  Aik  and  fif  ^ 
houses  were  set  on  fire,  on^e  or  two  of  which  wereSf 

mST  •  J^'  ^"^^^••'  '^^^  '  -^"^anded  bTcaplfn 
MKeon,  and  tlie  guns  were  w  .k.  .f  with  great  abS 
The  enemy  commenced  thro^^  aj  hells  fnd  L  /k  ^' 
were  no  defences  againct  these/Sptain  K.  W^^^^^^ 
fZT'^'"^"'^"'''^'"-^'*'  Pr«^"«^^«d  ordering  etrJS 
f«>m  the  garwson,  rather  than  expose  a  handful  of  J.e„To 
their  Oftoger,  Xk^biirsU^ofa  twelTcpoimd^lbV^hic^ 


i 


if 


3 


70 

two  iKon  were  Uineil,  depiived  Uic  fort  of  its  best  battery. 
The  retreat  h«d  scarcely  been  ordiuetl,  when  a  number 
•f  boats  lojuled  with  troops,  were  observed  to  put  off  front 
the  enemy's  shore,  upon  which,  captain  M'Keon  relirned 
iM  tlie  fort  with  a  guard  of  twenty  men,  remained  in  it 
during  the  nighl,  and  was  joined  next  morning  by  the  rest 
of  the  garrison.  Very  few  were  wounded,  and  none  kill- 
ed except  the  two  men  by  the  bursting  of  the  gun. 

Early  in  the  following  week  the  British  batteries  below 
fort  Erie  opened  a  very  heavy  fire  upon  the  village  and 
fortifications  of  Black  Rock,  and  kept  it  up  at  intervak 
during  the  day.  There  being  no  larger  pieces  than  sixes 
at  the  breastworks,  very  few  shot  were  returned.  Several 
cannon  shot  struck  the  battc.-y,  and  two  or  three  |)asstf(l 
through  tiie  upper  loft  of  the  west  barracks.  The  east 
barracks  were  destroyed  by  a  bomb  thrown  from  a  24 
pounder,  which  bk  vv  up  the  magazine,  and  burnt  a  quan- 
tity of  the  skins  taken  'ni  the  Caledonia.  General  Porter 
wf  the  New  York  miliua,  was  sitting  at  dinner  in  his  quar- 
ters, when  one  24  pound  ball  struck  the  upper  loft  of  his 
house,  and  another  entered  it  through  the  roof. 

On  the  22d  the  enemy  landed  at  St.  Regis,  a  village, 
without  a  garrison  of  any  kind,  and  from  which,  he  could 
move,  immediately  upon  the  camj)  at  French  Mills. 
The  tribe  of  Indians  inhabiting  the  village,  were  friendly 
to  the  United  States,  and  as  it  entered  into  the  views  of 
the  enemy  to  persuade  them  from  the  service  of  the  Ame- 
rican government,  into  which  they  might  probably  enter, 
and  to  flatter  them  into  their  own,  Sir  George  Prevost, 
under  the  authority  with  which  he  was  clothed,  had  for- 
warded to  this  tribe,  in  the  form  of  a  present,  a  quantity 
of  baggage,  consisting  of  blankets,  guns,  specie,  &,c.  un- 
der an  escort  of  soldiers,  and  accompanied  by  despatches, 
In  which  he  solicited  their  alHance.  The  force  was  vari- 
ously stated,  from  one  to  three  hundred,  and  major  G.  P. 
Young,  commanding  the  American  militia  from  Troy, 
at  the  Mills,  determined  on  immediately  attacking  them, 
as  it  was  understood  they  were  halting  there,  for  an  in- 
crease of  numbers.  He  detached  captain  Tilden  to  the 
St.  Lawrenc  J,  with  a  view  of  gaining  a  circuitous  route  to 
one,  of  two  houses  in  which  the  British  were  said  to  be 
quartered,  and  to  secure  the  enemy's  boats,  which  v/ere 
gt&tioned  there,  to  preTeot  bis  retreat.  Captain  Lyon  was 


^lite 


?cie,  8ic.  un- 


71 

delachecl  with  orders  to  take  the  road  running  along  the 
bank  of  the  river  St.  Regis,  with  directions  to  gain  the 
rear  of  the  other  house ;  and  major  Young  with  the  re- 
mainder of  the  forces  moved  on  in  front.     When  within 
lifly  yards  of  either  house,  he  lieard  a  firing  which  con- 
vinced hira,  that  captain  Lyon  was  engaged.     One  round 
Avas  sufficient.     The  enemy  surrendered,  hut  noi  to  the 
number  reported  to  have  landed,  and  the  Americans  made 
lorty  prisoners,  and  took  one  stand  of  colours,  thirty-eight 
muskets,  the  despatches,  and  all  the  bajrgage.     Two  bat- 
(eaux   wore   taken   by  captain  Tilden,   and   the  troops 
returned  to  their  encampment  at  about  eleven  o'clock. 
The  British  lost  four  killed  and  one  mortally  wounded. 
At  one  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  17th  Novem- 
ber, four  British  barges  approached  the  American  shore, 
about  a  mile  above  Ogdensburg,  and  on  being  hailed  by  a 
centmel  and  refusing  to  answer,  were  immediately  fired 
upon.     The  report  of  his  piece  brought  several  riflemen 
to  his  assistance,  when  the  barges  opened  a  smart  fire  of 
grape  shot,  without  effect,  and  soon  after  retired  to  Pres- 
cot  harbour.     On  their  way  thither  they  fired  several  shot 
into  me  town,  which  were  returned  by  a  six  pounder 
^   This  affair  was  followed  on  the  night  of  the  19th  by  an 

IJ^'JT^'"  ^^^^"  *""^^  '"*^  ^^^  ^"tish  territory,  by  colonel 
Z.  M.  Pike  and  a  part  of  the  1 5th  regiment.  He  assaulted, 
and  earned  a  post,  which  was  defended  by  a  large  body 
of  British  and  Indians,  burned  a  block  house,  and  put  the 
garnson  to  flight,  and  returned  wiih  the  loss  of  five  meu 
wounded. 

At  six  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  21st,  the  Bnthh 
laymg  prepared  mortars,  and  planted  a  long  train  of  bat- 
tering cannon,  behind  breastworks  erected  on  the  margin 
oi  he  river,  commenced  a  bombardment  of  fort  Niagara, 
and  opened  a  cannonade  from  the  batteries  at,  and  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  fort  George^  which  was  kept  up  without 
a momenl^s  cessation  until  sundown.  They  employed  five 
detached  batteries  in  this  affair.     Two  of  theni  mounting 
24  pounders,  and  one  mounting  a  9  pounder.     The  re- 
mainder were  mortar  batteries,  from  five  and  an  half,  to 
ten  and  an  half  inches,  from  which  were  thrown,  gJeat 
quantities  of  shells.     These  fortresses,  are  situated  nearly  • 
opposite  each  other,  at  tlie  mouth  of  the  Niagara  river 


w^ 


f 


w 


^    ^^' 


72 

and  command  the  entrance  from  Lake  Ontario.  The 
guns  of  fort  Nia&;ara  may  be  brought  to  bear  alternately 
upon  fort  (iieorge  and  the  town  of  Newark,  whilst  a  salt 
battery  being  a  dependency  of  fort  Niagara,  and  mount 
ing  one  eighteen  and  a  four  pounder,  is  directly  in  a  range 
tvith,  and  calculated  to  do  much  damage  to  the  enemy's 
garrison.  The  American  fort  had  received  an  augmenta- 
tion of  force,  immediately  after  the  cannonade  of  the  IStli, 
several  corps,  who  had  marched  to  L'ivvistown,  having 
been  ordered,  after  the  battle  of  Qneenstown,  to  relieve 
the  garrison  ;  but  it  was  not  yet  supplied  with  a  suflicienl 
quantity  of  artillery  and  ammunition.  It  was  now  com- 
manded by  colonel  George  M'Peeley.  In  the  course  of 
the  day  the  enemy  threw  two  thousand  red  hot  balls,  and 
one  hundred  and  eighty  shells.  The  shells  proved  to  be 
harmless,  but  the  hot  t  set  tire  to  several  btiildings, 
which  were  within  and  .t  the  fort,  but  through  the  iii- 
eessant  vigilance  of  all  the  officers,  and  men,  but  particu- 
larly of  that  gallant  officer  major  Armistead,  of  the  United 
States  corps  of  engineers,  who  has  on  many  other  occa- 
sions distinguished  himself,  the  tires  were  got  under  and 
extinguished,  without  being  discovered  by  the  enemy, 
Notwithstanding  the  vast  shower  of  shells  and  cannon 
ball,  which  was  falling  into  the  fort,  the  garrison  perform- 
ed th"'  dutj'^  with  unremitting  alacrity,  and  served  thoiif 
pieces  ith  coolness  and  composure.  Captain  M'Eeon 
commas  3d  a  12  pounder  in  the  south  east  block  house; 
captain  Jitcks,  of  the  7th  militia  artillery,  commanded  in 
the  north  block  house,  a  situation  most  exposed  to  the 
-enemy's  fire.  Lieutenant  Rees,  of  the  3d  artillery,  had 
command  of  an  1 8  pounder,  on  the  south  east  battery, 
from  wliich  several  well  directed  shot  were  made,  whilst 
the  piece  was  pointed  at  the  battery  en  barbeile,  mquntini; 
a  24  pounder.  Lieutenant  Wendal,  of  the  same  regiment, 
had  command  of  an  1 8  and  4  pounder  on  the  west  batte- 
ry ;  Dr.  Hooper,  of  the  militia  artillery,  had  comniand  of 
a  six  pounder  on  the  mess  house ;  and  lieutenants  Ganse- 
voort  and  Harris,  of  the  first  artillery,  had  command  of 
the  salt  battery.  Thus  disposed  they  returned  the  <:reof 
the  enemy,  with  vigour  and  effect.  They  directed  several 
of  the  pieces  at  tlie  town  of  Newark,  and  repeatedly  fired 
it  with  hot  shot.     The  buildings  within  fort  George  were 


7a 


also  fired,  and  at  one  time  one  of  the  batteries  was  si- 
lenced. A  part  of  the  parapet  falling  on  lieutenant  Kees, 
his  left  shoulder  was  so  severely  bruised,  that  it  became 
necessary  for  him  to  quit  his  station,  and  captain  Leonanl, 
happening  at  that  moment  to  arrive  at  the  fort,  tooii  com- 
mand of  lieutenant  Rees's  battery  for  the  remainder  of 
the  day.  The  continuation  of  the  bombardment  increas- 
ed the  animation  of  the  men,  and  they  fought  with  undi- 
minished cheerfulness  until  the  cannonading  ceased.  Col. 
M'Feeley  spoke  of  all  the  garrison  in  very  strong  terms, 
and  of  lieut.  colonel  Gray,  major  Armistead  and  captain 
Mulligan  particularly.  During  the  bombardment  a  t^v  Jve 
pounder  bursted  and  killed  t^vo  men.  Two  others  were 
killed  by  the  enemy's  fire,  and  lieutenant  Thomas  and 
four  men  were  wounded.  From  the  salt  battery  the  ene- 
my was  very  much  annoyed.  A  few  shot  from  the  four 
pounder  there,  sunk  a  schooner  which  lay  at  the  opposite 
wliarf,  and  such  was  the  spirited  earnestness  of  both  offi- 
cers and  men  at  this  battery,  that  when  in  the  most  tre- 
mendous of  the  bombardment,  they  had  fired  away  all  their 
cartridges,  they  cut  up  their  flannel  waistcoats  and  shirts, 
and  the  soldiers  their  trousers  to  supply  their  guns.  An  in- 
stance of  extraordinary  bravery  taok  place  in  the  garrison, 
in  the  hottest  of  the  cannonade,'*and  for  deliberate  cool- 
ness and  courageous  fortitude,  was  surpassed  neither  by 
.'  yJm,  maid  of  Orleans,  nor  the  heroine  of  Sarragosa. — 
Doyle,  a  private  in  the  United  States  artillery,  who  had 
been  stationed  in  the  fori,  was  ma<le  prisoner  in  the  battle 
of  Queenstown.  His  wife  remained  in  the  garrison  ;  and 
being  there  on  the  21st,  she  determined  to  resent  the  re- 
fusal of  the  Briash  to  parole  her  husband,  by  proffering 
her  services,  and  doing  his  duty  against  the  enemy  when- 
ever the  works  'should  be  assailed ;  and  she,  accordingly, 
on  this  occasion  attended  the  six  pounder  on  the  mess 
house,  with  hot  shot,  (regardless  of  the  shells  which  were 
falling  around  her,)  and  never  quitted  her  station  until  the 
last  gun  had  been  discharged. 

General  Van  Rensselaer,  having  resigned  his  command 
on  the  Niagara,  general  Sir>,yth  now  contemplated  a  more 
effectual  invasion  of  Canada,  than  that  wiiich  had  so  re- 
cently failed.  From  a  description  of  the  river  below  the 
fails,  the  view  of  the  shore  below  fort  Erie,  and  from  in- 


74 


'J  .   iwrnf 


formation  which  he  had  received  of  thf  enemy's  prepara- 
tiuns;  general  Sniyth  was  of  opinion,  that  the  landing 
ahoiiid  be  effected  between  fort  Erie  an<l  Chippewa.  This 
opinion  he  had  deliveretl  to  general  Van  Rensselaer  be- 
fore the  battle  of  Queenstown,  and  being  in  command, 
he  was  resolved  that  it  should  now  be  acted  upon.  The 
troops  stationed  at  Black  Rock  and  Buffaloe  were  equally 
desirous  of  engaging  the  enemy,  arid  the  general  promised 
them  conquest  and  renown.  In  order  that  he  might  visit 
the  Canadian  shore,  with  a  force  competent  to  retain  the 
posts  which  might  be  captured,  he  desired  to  increase  his 
numbers  by  such  an  accession  of  volunteers,  as  would  be 
willing  to  perform  one  month's  service  in  the  army,  to 
submit  to  the  rigid  discipline  of  a  camp,  and  to  encounter 
the  enemy  on  his  own  soil.  He  immediately  communi- 
cated his  intentions  by  a  proclamation,  issued  on  the 
10th  November,  circulated  in  the  counties  of  Seneca, 
and  Ontario,  and  inviting  persons  thus  disposed,  to  place 
themselves  under  his  authority.  This  proclamation  pro- 
duced the  intended  etfect.  It  held  forth  great  allurements, 
and  appealed  to  the  patriotism  of  the  American  citizens. 
Under  this  proclamation,  numbers  of  volunteers  came 
forward  with  the  expected  alacrity ;  and  on  the  27th  of 
November,  the  force  collected  at  the  station  amounted  to 
four  thousand  and  five  hundred  men,  including  the  regular 
troops,  and  the  Baltimore,  Pennsylvania,  and  New  York 
volunteers,  the  latter  being  placed  under  the  command  of 
general  Peter  B.  Porter,  of  the  militia.  On  the  following 
morning,  at  reveille,  the  whole  force  was  to  embark  from 
the  navy  yard  at  Black  Rock,  and  to  proceed  on  the  con- 
tempiated  expedition.  No  possible  preparation  was  omit- 
ted. At  the  Navy  yard,  there  were  laying  for  the  purpose 
of  transporting  the  troops  across  the  river,  seventy  public 
boats,  calculated  to  carry  forty  men  each;  five  lai^e  pri- 
vate boats,  which  were  ^aken  into  the  public  service,  cal- 
culated to  carry  one  hundred  men  each ;  and  ten  scows  for 
the  artillery,  to  carry  twenty  five  each ;  which,  together 
with  a  number  of  small  boats  which  were  also  provided, 
were  to  transport  the  whole  of  this  army.  After  inform- 
ing the  citizens,  that  for  many  years  they  had  seen  their 
country  oppressed  with  numerous  wrongs;  their  govern- 
nient,  though  above  all  others  devotf^d  to  peace,  had  been 
forced  to  draw  the  sword  and  rely  for  redress  of  injuries 


Mt 


T6 


on  Uie  valour  of  the  American  people,  and  Uiat  that  valour 
had  in  every  inalance  fn  en  conspicuous:  his  proclamation 
continued  in  the  foll<»  ing  words:  "But  the  nation  haa 
"  been  unfortunate  in  the  election  of  some  of  those  who 
"  ha\  t!  directed  it.  One  army  has  been  disirracefully  siir- 
"  rendered  and  lost.  Jnolher  has  been  sacrijficed,  by  a  pre- 
**  dpitate  attempt  /<  pass  over  at  the  strongest  point  of  the 
"  enemy's  lines,  with  most  incompetent  iruuns.  The  cause 
"  of  these  miscarria^t  a  is  apparent.  The  commanders 
"  were  popular  men,  "destitute  alike  of  theory  and  expe- 
"  rience"  in  the  art  of  war.  Ir  few  days,  the  troops  un- 
"  der  my  command,  will  plant  the  American  standard  in 
"  Canada.  They  are  men,  accustomed  to  obedience,  si- 
"  lence,  and  steadiness.  They  will  conquer,  or  they  will 
"  die.  Will  you  stand  with  your  ims  folded  and  look  on 
"  this  in!  -psting  struggle?  Are  you  not  related  to  the  men 
"  who  fought  at  Bennington  and  Saratoga  .  'as  the  race 
'•  degenerated?  Or,  have  you,  under  the  baneful  influence 
"  of  contending  passions,  forgot  your  country?  Vlustlturn 
«  from  you  and  ask  the  men  of  the  Six  Nations  to  support 
"  the  government  of  the  United  States?  Shall  I  imitate  the 
"  otficei's  of  the  British  King,  and  suffer  our  ungathered  lau- 
"  rels  to  be  tarpished  by  ruthless  deeds  ?*  Shame,  where 
«  is  t;hy  blush?  No.  Where  I  command,  the  vanquished 
"  and  the  peaceful  man,  the  maid  and  the  matron,  shall  be 
"  secure  from  wrong.  If  we  conquer,  "we  will  conquer 
"  but  to  save." 

"  Men  ofNen-York, 

"  The  present  is  the  hour  of  renown,  f  Tave 
*'  you  not  a  wish  for  fame  ?  W^ould  you  not  choose  in  fu- 
"  ture  times  to  be  named  as  one,  who,  imitating  the  heroes 
"  whom  Montgomery  led,  have,  in  spile  of  the  seasons 
"  visited  the  tomb  of  the  chief,  and  conquered  the  country 
"  where  he  lies?  Yes,  you  desire  your  share  of  fame. 

Ihen  seize  the  present  moment.       If  you  do  not    you 
"  will  regret  it:  and  say,  "  the  valiant  bled  in  vain-  the 
"  friends  of  my  countiy  fell— and  I  was  not  there'"  ad- 
"  vance  then  to  our  aid.     I  will  wait  for  you  a  iow  days 
"  I  cannot  give  you  the  day  of  my  departure.— But  come 

*  It  was  about  this  time  understood,  that  a  number  of  friendly 
Indians  proposed  to  be  taken  into  general  Smyth's  army,  but  that 
ue  explicitly  refused  to  let  them  accompany  him  into  Canada. 

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<<  on.  Come  in  companies,  half  companies,  op  singly.  I 
**  will  organize  you  for  a  short  tour.  Ride  to  tbia  pluce, 
"  if  the  distance  is  far,  and  send  back  your  horses.  But 
"  remember^  that  every  man  who  accompanies  ua,  places 
^*  himself  under  my  comjnand,  and  shalt  submit  to  the 
«  salutary  restraints  of  discipline." 

Accompanying  a  second  proclamation  of  gen.  Smyth, 
of  Uie  17th  November,  in  which  was  recapitulated  most 
of  the  appeal  of  the  former,  and  in  which  he  set  forth, 
that  "disloyal  and  traitorous  men  had  endeavoured  to 
«*  persuade  the  people  from  doing  their  duty,"  was  an 
address  from  general  Porter  to  the  people  of  Ontario 
and  Gennesee;  in  which  he  informed  them,  that  ge- 
neral Smyth  had  a  powerful  army  at  Buffaloe,  under 
strict  discipline,  in  high  spirits  and  eager  for  the  contest. 
That  with  this  army,  he  would  in  a  few  days  occupy  all 
the  British  fortresses  on  the  Niagara.  That  as  humanity 
8Uggeste<1  that  this  conquest  should  be  achieved  with  the 
least  possible  sacrifice,  general  Smyth  had  asked  their  aid 
and  co-operation,  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a  force  that 
would  overawe  opposition,  and  save  the  effusion  of  blood. 
That  he  intended  himself  to  accompany  the  expedition; 
that  a  vigorous  camoaign  of  one  month  would  relieve  their 
fellow  citizens  of  the  frontier  from  their  sufferings ;  drive 
off  the  savage  knife  ;  resiore  peace  to  the  whole  of  that 
section  of  the  coi.n'ry ;  and  ledeem  the  tarnished  reputa 
tion  of  the  nation. 

A  large  number  of  troops  were  nov>  'assembled  at  and 
near  Buffaloe,  where  they  were  drilled,  equipped  and 
organized  for  the  intended  invasion.  Ten  boats  were 
appointed  to  precede  the  main  body,  to  effect  a  landing, 
and  to  storm  and  carry  the  enemy's  batteries.  A  number 
of  sailors  were  engaged  to  navigate  the  boats,  under  com- 
mand of  lieutenant  commandant  Samuel  Angus  of  the 
navy,  assisted  by  fieutenant  Dudley,  sailing  master  Watts, 
who  had  distinguished  himself  in  cutting  out  the  Caledo- 
nia, and  several  other  naval  officers.  At  3  o'clock  in  the 
morning  of  the  28th,  these  boats  put  off  from  the  Ameri- 
can shore,  but  they  had  not  proceeded  one  fourth  of  the 
way  across,  when  the  British  batteries  opened  a  galling 
fire,  an<l  five  of  them  were  obliged  to  return.  In  one  of 
these  was  colonel  Winder  of  the  14th  infantry,  who  com- 
inanded  the  troops  to  whom  this  hazardous  duty  was  as- 


'III 


T7 


le  of  Ontario 


signed.  The  command  of  the  14th  devolved  therefore 
upon  lieutenant  colonel  Boerstler,  who  was  in  one  of  the 
advance  boats  with  several  resolute  infantr>'  officers.  A 
severe  fire  of  musquetry  and  of  grape  shot  from  two  pieees 
of  fiying  artillery,  was  poured  upon  this  part  of  the  squad- 
ron, but  they  effected  their  landing  in  good  order,  formed 
on  the  shore,  and  advanced  to  the  accomplishment  of 
their  object.  Lieutenant  commandant  Angus  and  his 
officers,  assisted  by  Samuel  Swartwout,  Esq,  of  New- 
York,  an  enterpnzing  citizen,  who  happened  to  be  at  the 
station,  acted  as  volunteers  after  the  landing  of  the  troops, 
and  joining  their  little  band  of  sailors  to  the  regulars,  un- 
der captain  King  of  the  15th,  they  stormed  the  enemy's 
principal  batteries  and  drove  him  to  the  Red  House,  where 
he  rallied  with  two  hundred  and  fifty  men,  and  commenr 
ced  a  rapid  fire  of  musquetry  Upon  the  assailants.  Sixty 
regulars  and  fifty  saHors  composed  the  whole  American 
force.  The  success  at  the  battery,  the  g>ins  of  which 
were  spiked,  was  followed  up  by  a  desperate  assault  upon 
the  Red  House.  The  sailors  charged  with  boarding  pikes 
and  cutlasses,  the  regulars  with  the  bayonet,  and  after  a 
hard  and  destructive  engagement,  they  routed  the  enemy, 
fired  the  house  in  which  fie  quartered,  and  madis  about 
fifty  prisoners.  Lieutenant  colonel  Boerstler  attacked  and 
dispersed  the  enemy  lower  down  the  river,  and  took  also 
several  prisoners.  Every  battery  between  Chippewa  and 
fort  Erie,  was  now  carried;  the  cannon  spiked  or  destroy- 
ed, and  sixteen  miles  of  the  Canadian  frontier  laid  waste 
and  deserted.  The  boats  returned  with  the  wounded  and 
Hie  prisoners,  leaving  captain  King  and  twelve  men,  who 
were  so  anxious  to  complete  the  destruction  of  every 
breastwork  and  barrack  of  the  enemy,  that  they  resolved 
on  remaining  in  possession  of  the  conquered  ground,  until 
the  main  body  of  the  army  should  cross  over  the  strait, 
and  march  to  the  assault  of  the  British  forts.  Sailing 
master  Watts  fell  at  the  head  of  his  division  of  the  sailors, 
while  he  was  gallantly  leading  them  on.  Midshipman 
Gt-aham  received  a  severe  wound,  which  caused  an  am- 
putation of  a  leg.  Seven  out  of  twelve  of  the  navy 
officers  were  wounded.  Captain  Morgan  of  the  12tb, 
captain  Sprowl  and  captain  Box  of  the  13th,  and  Keut. 
Li3son,  the  two  latter  of  whom  were  badly  wounded,  took 
a  very  distinguished  part  in  the  engagement 


*' 


78  ' 

At  day-break,  the  batteries  on  the  American  side  were 
opened ;  they  were  ready  to  cover  the  embarkation  of  the 
main  army,  and  most  of  the  troops  had  arrived  at  the  de- 
signated place.   Three  hundred  and  forty  volunteers,  who 
had  raUied  under  general  Smyth's  proclamation,  well 
armed  ^nd  provided,  were  marched  by  general  Porter  to 
the  navy  yard.     One  hundred  and  fifty  others  were  draw- 
ing arms  at  Buflfaloe,  and  had  orders  to  follow  immediate- 
ly.    Colonel  Winder,  being  under  an  apprehension  that 
lieutenant  colonel  Boerstler  and  his  men  were  in  danger, 
made  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to  land  two  hundred  and 
fifty  men  at  a  difficult  point  down  the  river,  his  own  be- 
ing the  only  boat  which  touched  the  shore.    When  the 
squadron  returned  from  their  successful  enterprize,  he  put 
back  and  formed  his  regiment  to  join  in  the  general  em- 
barkation.   At  sunrise,  the  troops  began  to  embark,  but 
such  was  their  tardiness,  that  at  12  o'clock  the  whole  body, 
with  colonel  Swift's  volunteer  regiment,  were  not  yet  in  the 
boats.    A  conf  ideflible  number  of  barges  had  been  thrown 
upon  the  shores  of  the  river  and  Conejockeda  «reek,  by 
the  high  tide  of  the  preceding  dry,  others  were  filled  with 
ice  and  water,  and  those  which  had  been  employed  by  co- 
lonel Winder  were  laying  about  one  mile  below.  To  collect 
and  put  these  in  order  for  the  reception  of  the  troops,  re- 
quired a  delay  of  several  hours  more,  and  it  was  not  until  2 
o'clock  that  all  the  troops  intended  to  be  sent  over  at  the  first 
crossing,  were  collected  in  a  group  of  boats  at  Black  Rock, 
under  cover  of  the  batteries;  where  general  Porter,  having 
brought  up  the  five  boats  which  were  below,  joined,  and 
took  his  station  among  them.    The  number  now  embark- 
ed, according  to  the  estimate  of  general  Porter,  were  about 
two  thousand,  who  were  anxiously  awaiting  the  order  t« 
proceed.      General  Tannehill's  volunteers,  colonel  F. 
M*Clure's  regiment,  and  some  riflemen  and  cavalry,  in  all 
about  two  thousand  more,  were  still  paraded  on  the  shore, 
and  were  to  constitute  the  second  embarkation.    In  the 
mean  time,  captain  King  and  bis  twelve  men,  who  were 
yet  in  the  enemy's  territory  dismountirg  his  pieces,  were 
made  prisoners,  and  about  five  hundred  British  troops 
had  been  drawn  up  in  line,  about  half  a  mile  from  the  ri- 
ver, sounding  their  trumpets  and  bugles,  and  indicating 
their  readiness  to  receive  the  Americans.    Late  in  the  af- 
ternoon, general  Bmyth  ordered  the  troops  to  disembark, 


f9 

and  silenced  their  murmurs,  by  an  assurance,  that  the  ex- 
pedition was  only  postponed  until  the  boats  should  be  put 
in  a  state  of  better  preparation,  and  that  they  (the  troops) 
should  immediately  after  be  put  in  motion.  The  different 
regiments  retired  to  their  respective  quarters :  general 
Porter  marched  his  Volunteers  to  Buffaloe,  but  the  enemy 
was  actively  employed  in  re-mounting  his  guns  upon  the 
batteries.  On  Sunday,  the  29th,  an  order  was  issued  from 
the  head  quarters  of  the  commanding  general  for  the  march 
of  the  troops  to  the  navy  yard,^  to  embark  on  the  follow- 
ing morning,  at  nine  o'clock.  The  time  and  manner  pro-r 
posed  in  this  order,  were  disapproved  of  by  all  the  oflS- 
cers  ;  and  those  of  the  highest  rank  addressed  the  general 
and  stated  their  objections  to  the  plan.  The  repaired  state 
of  the  enemy's  batteries,  rendered  it  inexpedient  to  cross 
at  the  point  above  the  island,  which  covers  the  navy  yard; 
belotv  that  point  he  lay  much  augmented,  in  consequence 
of  the  gallant  affair  of  the  28th,  and  occupied  a  line  of 
shore  of  nearly  a  mile,  from  which  he  would  have  a  full 
view  of  the  American  movement,  if  made  by  daylight. 
To  avoid  the  fire  of  the  British  flying  artillen'  and  infon- 
try,  it  was  proposed  to  general  Smyth,  that  the  troops 
should  be  landed  five  miles  below  the  navy  yard,  at  an 
hour  and  a  half  before  day  on  the  morning  of  Tuesday, 
so  that  this  dangerous  shore  might  be  passed  in  the  dark ; 
when,  if  the  boats  were  discovered,  the  troops  would  suf- . 
fer  less  from  the  enemy's  fire.  The  place  which  wao  thus 
recommended,  was  of  all  others,  peculiarly  favourable  to 
a  safe  and  orderly  landing,  and  the  proposal  was  accord- 
ingly adopted,  and  the  army  were  to  embark  at  3  o'clock, 
and  to  land  at  half  past  4,  in  the  order  of  battle  prescribed 
on  the  28th. 

On  Monday  evening,  seven  boats  for  colonel  Swift's  re^ 
giment,  and  eight  for  the  newTolunteers,  were  brought  up 
the  river  and  placed  at  different  points,  so  that  the  noise 
and  confusion  of  embarking  the  whole  atone  place,  might 
be  avoided.  At  half  an  hour  after  3,  these  boats  were  oc- 
cupied and' took  their  station  opposite  the  navy  yard. 
The  regulars  were  to  proceed  on  the  right,  general  Tan- 
nehill's  volunteers  in  the  centre,  and  the  New-York  vo- 
lunteers on  the  left.  General  Porter,  with  a  chosen  set  of 
men,  was  appointed  to  proceed  in  front  to  direct  the  land- 
ii»g,  and  to  join  the  New- York  volunteers  when  on  the  op- 

H2 


79     • 

and  silenced  their  murmurs,  by  an  assurance,  that  the  ex- 
pedition was  only  postponed  until  the  boats  should  be  put 
in  a  state  of  better  preparation,  and  that  they  (the  troops) 
should  immediately  after  be  put  in  motion.  The  different 
regiments  retired  to  their  respective  quarters :  general 
Porter  marched  his  Volunteers  to  BufTaloe,  but  the  enemy 
was  actively  employed  in  re-mounting  his  guns  upon  the 
batteries.  On  Sunday,  the  29th,  an  order  was  issued  from 
the  head  quarters  of  the  commanding  general  for  the  march 
of  the  troops  to  the  navy  yard,  to  embark  on  the  follow- 
ing morning,  at  nine  o'clock.  The  time  and  manner  pro- 
posed in  this  order,  were  disapproved  of  by  all  the  oflS- 
cers  ;  and  those  of  the  highest  rank  addressed  the  general 
and  stated  their  objections  to  the  plan.  The  repaired  state 
of  the  enemy's  batteries,  rendered  it  inexpedient  to  cross 
at  the  point  above  the  island,  which  covers  the  navy  yard ; 
below  that  point  he  lay  much  augmented,  in  consequence 
of  the  gallant  affair  of  the  28th,  and  occupied  a  line  of 
shore  of  nearly  a  mile,  from  which  he  would  have  a  full 
view  of  the  American  movement,  if  made  by  daylight. 
To  avoid  the  fire  of  the  British  flying  artillen-  and  infon- 
try,  it  was  proposed  to  general  Smyth,  that  the  troops 
should  be  landed  five  miles  below  the  navy  yard,  at  an 
hour  and  a  half  before  day  on  the  morning  of  Tuesday, 
so  that  this  dangerous  shore  might  be  passed  in  the  dark ; 
when,  if  the  boats  were  discovered,  the  troops  would  suf- . 
fer  less  from  the  enemy's  fire.  The  place  which  wa^  thus 
recommended,  was  of  all  others,  peculiarly  favourable  to 
a  safe  and  orderly  landing,  and  the  proposal  was  accord- 
ingly adopted,  and  the  army  were  to  embark  at  3  o'clock, 
and  to  land  at  half  past  4,  in  the  order  of  battle  prescribed 
on  the  28th. 

On  Monday  evening,  seven  boats  for  colonel  Swift's  re^ 
giment,  and  eight  for  the  newTolunteers,  were  brought  up 
the  river  and  placed  at  different  points,  so  that  the  noiBe 
and  confusion  of  embarking  the  whole  atone  place,  might 
be  avoided.  At  half  an  hour  after  3,  these  boats  were  oc- 
cupied and' took  their  station  opposite  the  navy  yard. 
The  regulars  were  to  proceed  on  the  right,  general  Tan- 
nehill's  volunteers  in  the  centre,  and  the  New-York  vo- 
lunteers on  the  left.  General  Porter,  with  a  chosen  set  of 
men,  was  appointed  to  proceed  in  front  to  direct  the  land- 
ing, and  to  join  the  New- York  volunteers  when  on  the  op- 

H2 


80 


V  w 


poaiie  shore.  On  the  amval  of  Uie  boats  whieh  were  to 
•ompose  th«  van,  general  Porter  found  that  the  artillery 
were  embarking  i^i  the  scows  with  as  much  haste  as  pos- 
sible ;  but  one  hour  elapsed  before  the  regular  infantry 
attempted  to  follow,  when  colonel  Winder,  at  tho  head  of 
the  I4th,  entered  the  boats  with  great  order  and  silence. 
Every  thing  seemed  to  promise  a  speedy  and  successful  is< 
sue;  the  troops  to  be  embarked  were  now  nearly  all  in  rea- 
dinessto  proceed:  general  Porter  dropped  to  the  front  of  the 
line  witlra  flag,  to  designate  the  leading  boat,  and  the  word 
only  was  wanted  to  put  off.  The  front  of  the  line  was 
one^fourth  of  a  mile  from  the  shore,  when  the  rear  was 
observed  to  be  retarded,  and  general  Porter  received  o^ 
ders  from  general  Smyth  to  disembark  immediately.  He 
was  at  the  same  time  informed,  that  the  invasion  of  Ca- 
nada was  abandoned  for  tlie  season,  that  the  regulars  were 
ordered  into  winter  quarters,  and  that,  as  the  services  of 
the  volunteers  could  now  be  dispensed  with,  they  might 
stack  their  arms  and  return  to  their  homes.  Previously  to 
this  order  an  interview  had  taken  place  between  p^eneral 
Smyth  and  a  British  major,  who  came  over  with  a  fli^. 
The  scene  of  discontent  which  followed,  was  without  pa- 
rallel. Four  thousand  men,  without  order  or  restraint, 
indignantly  discharged  their  musquets  in  every  direction. 
The  pe^nsou  of  tlie  commanding  general  was  threatened. 
Upwwds  of  one  thousand  men,  of  all  classes  of  society, 
had  suddenly  left  their  homes  and  families,  and  had  made 
great  sacrifices  t'«  obey  the  call  of  their  country,  under 
general  Smytii's  invitation.  He  possessed  their  strongest 
confidence,  and  was  gaining  their  warmest  affections :  he 
could  lead  to  no  post  of  danger  to  which  thr^"-  would  not 
follow.  Bi^  now,  the  hopes  of  his  govv  iiment,  the 
expectations  of  the  people,  the  desires  of  the  army, 
were  (dl  prostrated^  and  he  was  obliged  to  hear  the 
bitter  reproaches,  and  the  indignant  epithets  of  the  men 
whom  he  had  promised  to  lead  ta  hono&:r,  to  glory,  to  re- 
nown. The  inhaUtants  refused  to  give  him  quarters  in 
their  houses,  or  to  pr^iect  him  from  &e  rage  of  those  who 
considered  themselves  the  victims  of  his  imbecility,  or 
his  deceit.  He  was  obliged  constantly  to  i^ift  his  tent  to 
avoid  the  genei  I  clamour,  and  to  double  the  guard  sur- 
rounding it;  and  he  was  several  times  fired  al  when  he 
ventured  witboul  it.    Aft  appiiea^tioa  was  made  to  him  by 


8t 

the  voIui^eM)  to  peirmk  them  to  inwhie  the  enemy's  tef 
ritory  under  general  Porter,  and  they  pled|^d  themselves 
to  him  to  take  fort  Erie  if  he  wuld  ^ve  them  four  pieces; 
of  flying  artillery.    TWb  solicitation  was  evaded,  an^  the 
volunteer  troops  proceeded  to  their  homes,  execrating  the 
man  whom  they  had  respected,  and  the  general  on  whose 
talents  and  whose  promises  they  had  placed  the  most  ge- 
nerous reKanoe.    Geneisl  Smyth,  however,  found  those 
who  gave  their  approbation  to  his  measures,  and  who 
thought  that  he  had  saved  his  army  by  relinquishing  the 
mvasion  of  Canada.    The  public  mind  was  for  a  long  time 
agitated  with  doubts  about  the  propriety  of  his  conduct,  m 
not  prosecuting  the  campaign,  and  breaking  up  the  enemy's 
strong  posts  along  the  Niagara.    Few,  however,  have  he- 
sitated to  dechire  Ms  culpability  in  inducing  men  to  leave 
their  homes  for  a  month's  incursion  into  the  British  territo- 
ry, unless  he  intended  to  effect  it  at  every  hazard  which 
thiey  might  be  willing  to  encounter.    But  he  has  alleged, 
that  his  orders  from  the  commander  in  chief  were  to  cross 
with  "three  thousand  men  at  once,"  and  that  he  could  not 
ascertain  the  number  of  troops  which  would  go  over,  but 
by  seeing  them  actually  embarked,  and  that  when  they 
were  embarketl,  they  did  not  amount  to  more  than  fifteen 
hundred  and  twelve  men,  exclusive  of  the  staff,  being  but 
half  the  number,  with  which  only,  his  instructions  autho- 
rized him  to  assail  the  opposite  shore. — ^That  many  of  the 
militia  not  only  revised  to  go  when  ordered  into  the  boats, 
by  his  brigade  major,  but  that  more  than  half  of  general 
Tannehill's  brigade  had  deserted.    In  his  official  letter  to 
general  Dearborn,  he  stated,  that  he  had  called  together  a 
council  of  hisofiksers,  agreeably  to  his  instructions^  in  alF 
important  cases,  and  that  they  decided  against  the  con- 
templated operations,  upon  the  ground  of  the  insufficiency 
of  force.-.That  he  then  informed  the  officers,  that  the  at- 
tempt to  invade  Canada  would  not  be  made  until  the  army 
should  be  reinforced,  and  directed  them  to  withdraw  their 
troops^  and  cover  them  with  huts  immediately.     That 
the  vohmteers  and  the  neighbouring  people  were  dis^ 
satisfied,  aaA  that  it  had  been  in  the  power  of  the  con- 
tracting agent  (aHodlng  to  general  Porter,)  to  excite  some 
clamour  against  the  course  pursued,  as  he  found  the  contract 
a  losing  one,  and  would  wish  to  see  the  army  in  Cauada 
that  he  might  not  be  bound  to  supply  it.    That  the  situa- 


f 


the  voluoteetti^to' permit  them  to  hivude  the  enemy's  tet* 
rWory  under  general  Porter,  and  they  pled|^4  themselTee 
to  him  to  take  fort  Erie  if  he  w^nld  |^ve  them  four  pieces 
of  flying  avtUlery.    TWb  Bolicitation  was  eraded,  and  the 
volunteer  troops  proceeded  to  their  homes,  execrating  the 
man  whom  they  had  respected,  and  the  general  on  whose 
talents  and  whose  promises  they  had  placed  the  most  ge- 
nerous reKanoe.    Geneivl  Smyth,  however,  found  those 
who  gave  ttieir  approbation  to  his  measures,  and  who 
thought  that  he  had  saved  hi«  army  by  reHnquishing  the 
mvasion  of  Canada.    The  public  mind  was  for  a  long  time 
agitated  with  doubts  about  the  propriety  of  his  conduct,  in 
not  prosecuting  the  campaign,  and  breaking  up  the  enemy's 
strong  posts  along  the  Niagara.    Few,  however,  have  he- 
sitated to  dechire  his  culpability  in  inducing  men  to  leave 
their  homes  for  a  month's  incursion  into  the  British  territo- 
ry;, unless  he  intended  to  effect  it  at  every  hazard  which 
they  might  be  willing  to  encounter.    But  he  has  alleged, 
that  his  orders  from  the  commander  in  chief  were  to  cross 
with  "three  thousand  men  at  once,"  and  that  he  could  not 
ascertain  the  number  of  troops  which  would  go  over,  but 
by  seeing  them  actually  embarked,  and  that  when  they 
were  emSarketl,  they  did  not  amount  to  more  than  fifteen 
hundred  and  twelve  men,  exclusive  of  the  staff,  being  but 
half  the  number,  with  which  only,  his  instructions  autho- 
rized him  to  assail  the  opposite  shore. — ^That  many  of  the 
militia  not  only  revised  to  go  when  ordered  into  the  boats, 
by  his  brigade  major,  but  that  more  than  half  of  general 
Tannehill's  brigade  had  deserted.    In  his  official  letter  to 
general  Dearborn,  he  stated,  that  he  had  called  together  a 
council  of  his  officers,  agreeably  to  his  instructions^  in  alF 
important  cases,  and  that  they  decided  against  the  con- 
templated operations,  upon  the  ground  of  the  insufficiency 
of  force.--That  he  then  informed  the  officers,  that  the  at- 
tempt to  invade  Canada  would  not  be  made  until  the  army 
should  be  reinforced,  and  directed  them  to  withdraw  their 
troops^  and  cover  them  with  huts  immediately.     That 
the  vohinteefs  and  the  neighbouring  people  were  dis^ 
satisfied,  aiHl  that  it  had  been  in  the  power  of  the  con- 
tracting ageni  (aHuding  to  generate  Porter,)  to  excite  some 
clamour  against  the  coarse  pursued,  as  he  found  the  contract 
a  losing  one,  and  would  wish  to  see  the  army  in  Cauada 
that  he  might  not  be  bound  ^  gupply  it.    That  the  situa- 


I 


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It  m 


f,f  i^ 


.iSii    ' 


tion  of  the  force  under  his  (general  Smylh^s)  command, 
had  not  been  such  as  to  make  the  propriety  of  a  forvirard 
movement  obvious  to  all:  that  circumstanced  as  he  was, 
he  thought  it  his  duty  "  to  follow  the  cautious  counsel^  of 
*'  experience,  and  not  precipitation,  to  add  to  the  list  of 
"  our  defeats." 

Whether  general  Porter's  anxiety  to  see  the  army  in 
Canada,  arose  from  so  uiterested  a  motive  as  general 
Smyth  has  alleged,  or  whether  he  was  actuated  by  a  desire 
to  see  the  campaign  of  1812  closed  with  some  brilliant 
achievement  of  the  American  arms,  the  reader  will  be 
better  able  to  judge,  by  remembering  the  indefatigable 
exertions  which  that  gentleman  made  use  of  to  enlarge  the 
Y  c  forces  at  Buffaloe,  by  which  the  supplies  of  the  army  would 
be  increased^  and  of  the  personal  share  which  he  was  dis- 
posed to  take  in  the  most  dangerous  part  of  the  enteiprize. 

On  the  2d  of  December,  the  enemy  again  opened  his 
batteries  upon  Black  Rock,  probably  with  a  view  to  in- 
form general  Smyth  that  his  guns  were  unspiked  and  re- 
placed, anu  ^hat  he  was  again  in  a  state  to  resist  the  inva- 
sion. His  fire  was  returned  from  several  six  pounders, 
one  of  which,  under  captain  J.  N.  Barker,  was  so  well  di- 
rected, that  the  ball  entered  an  embrasure,  dismounted  a 
heavy  gun,  and  disabled  the  carriage. 

The  trqops  were  now  all  quartered;  barracks  were 
erected  at  Batavia  for  the  reception  of  the  largest  propor- 
tion,, and  no  operations  took  place  until  the  close  of  the 
year:  The  armies  were  distinguished  by  titles,  derived 
from  their  situations.  That  which  was  commanded  by  ge- 
neral Smyth,  being  the  Army  of  the  centre,  and  that  up- 
on the  St.  Lawrence  and  in  its  vicinity,  being  the  North- 
ern ARMY.  This  latter,  which  consisted  of  an  active  force 
of  five  thousand  seven  hundred  and  thirty-seven  men,  of 
infantry,  cavalry,  field  and  horse  artillery  and  militia,  had 
also  gone  into  winter  quarters;  and  the  hopes  of -the  nation 
rested  now  only  on  the  North  western  army,  which 
we  left  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Rapids  of  the  Miami; 
the  head  quarters  of  its  commander  at  Sandusky,  making 
vigorous  preparations  for;  a  push  upon  the  British  and  In* 
dians  at  Detroit,  and  resolved  upon  quartering  for.  the 
winter  in  one  of  the  enemy's  garrisons. 


rth^s)  command, 
sty  of  a  forward 
need  as  he  wag, 
ious  counsel^  of 
[kl  to  the  list  of 

see  the  army  in 
>tive  as  general 
lated  by  a  desire 
ii  some  brilliant 
!  reader  will  be 
he  indefatigable 
of  to  enlarge  the 
'the  army  would 
hich  he  was  dis- 
f  the  enterprize. 
gain  opened  his 
ith  a  view  to  in- 
inspiked  and  re- 
»  resist  the  inva- 
il  six  pounders, 
,  was  so  well  di- 
if  dismounted  a 

barracks  were 
5  largest  propor- 
the  close  of  the 
7  titles,  derived 
nmanded  by  ge- 
RG,  and  that  up- 
ing  the  North- 
'  an  active  force 
-seven  men,  of 
and  militia,  had 
)es  oflhe  nation 
w  ARMY,  which 
Is  of  the  Miami; 
idusky,  making 
British  and  Io<^ 
irtering  for.  the 


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i: 


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M.i'^i 


STEPHEN     DECATITR    Ksp 


f  J^yd^     '^//^i^r-,/  ^^^/^^    ^A'aiJ, 


'%. 


CHAFTEHTH. 

The  navy — Tftirdnavt^  victory  ^  ike  United  Slaies  over  the 
British  JrigtUe^  the  Macedonian — Progress  of  the  naval 
atabtishment  on  lake  Ontario — Chauncey^s  squadron 
pursues  the  Reyal  George  into  Kingston  harbour  and 

■  bctmbards  that  town — Growler  captures  an  enemy* s  sloop 
— Fight  between  the  British  stoop  efmrnt  ChorytnU*,  and 
Oie  privateer  Blockade — Tfu  Orders-ii^CouncH exchanges 
brmidsides  nrifh  the  British  sloop  of  war  Opossum — The 
Tom  captures  the  Tonmsend — The  Bona  vanquishes  a 
9Z  gun  ship — The  Dolphin  engages  and  carries  two  Mrm- 
td  vesaels-^Fourth  naval  victory,  the  CottstiliUion  over 
1^  BriUsh  frigate  ihe  JagM, 

TEE  American  arms  on  the  ocean  were  all  this  time 
Gcmtiottuig  to  be  triumphant.  One  naval  victory  guceeed* 
ed  another,  until  the  people  of  the  tTnited  Btates  were  as- 
'tomshed  at  the  eeaselesB  prowess  of  their  tan;  and  C^e  nar 
tions  of  Europe  stood  in  admiration,  and  be^Ml  (0  look 
upon  the  riung  nayaS  establishment  of  America^  as  a  future 
rival  to  the  formidable  enemy,  against  whom  it  was  al|wady 
suocessfuUy  contending. 

The  United  States  frigate  the  United  Stales,  captain 
Stephen  Decatur,  of  44  guns,  having  separated  from  the 
squadron  under  commodore  Rodgers,  with  which  she  left 
Boston  on  the  18th  October,  cruised  in  the  track  of  the 
British  frigates  until  the  25th,  when  in  latitude  29  deg.  N. 
long.  29  deg.  30  min.  W.  she  fell  in  with  the  British  frigate 
Macedonian,  captain  John  Garden,  of  38  guns,  but  carrying 
49,  the  odd  one  being  a  shifting  gun.  The  Macedonian 
was  to.  windward,  and  entered  tlie  engagement  at  her  own 
distance.  For  half  an  hour  after  the  commencement  of 
the  action,  the  United  States  had  no  opportuniiy  of  using 
her  carronades,  the  enemy  keeping  out  of  their  reach,  and 
never  once  coming  within  the  range  of  grape  or  musc^eit- 
ry.  The  action,  therefore,  was  of  greater  length  than  usual, 


AmtfX 


W^ 


,r^i 


14 


#•< 


and  continued  under  eyery  advantage  to  the  enemj^ 
nntil  the  United  States  neared  him.  The  fire  from  her 
then  became  bo  vivid,  that  the  enemy's  creir  imaKining 
i»lier  to  be  on  fire,  gave  many  demonstratiohe  of  their  j(^, 
and  expected  every  inntant  to  see  her  blown  up.'  Bui 
tile  Macedonian's  misen  ma«t  was  riiot  away  by  the 
board,  her  fore  and  topmasts  by  the  caps,  her  lower  masts 
badly  wounded,  her  main-mast  destroyed,  and  all  her  rig- 
ging out  up.  Mbst  of  her  guns  were  disabled^  the  largest 
part  of  her  crew  killed  and  wounded,  and  having  become 
a  perfect  wreck,,  she  surrendered  after  an  action  of  an 
hour  and  an  half,  at  the  moment  when  the  United  Statei 
was  about  to  rake  her. 

The  enthusiasm  of  the  American  crew,  on  discovering 
the  enemy,  and  during  the  battle,  was  perhaps  unprece- 
dented ;  the  precision  of  their  fire  never  surpassed  in  any 
other  navaf  engagement.  Captain  Carden  being  brought 
on  board,  presented  his  sword  to  captain  Decatur,  who,  in 
testimony  of^  the  gallantry  of  his  enemy,  declined  accept- 
ing it,  saying  that  "  he  could  not  receive  the  sword  of  a 
man,  who  had  defended  his  ship  so  bravely.*' — The  ene- 
my's loss  amounted  to  one  hundred  and  four  ;  thirty-six 
in  killed,  and  sixty-eight  wounded  :  among  the  latter,  her 
first  and  third  lieutenants.  The  loss  of  the  United  States 
was  five  killed  and  seven  wounded,  making  a  total  of 
twelve.  Among  the  latter  was  lieutenant  John  Musser 
Funk,  of  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania,  who  i^terwards  died  of 
his  wounds,  regretted  for  his  worth,  and  admired  for  his 
constant  cooli^pss  and  courage.  The  United  States  re* 
ceivod  no  daift^e  whatever,  and  returned  to  port  only  to 
see  her  prize  safe  in.  The  superiority  of  gunnery  was 
decidedly,  in  this  action,  on  the  side  of  the  American  sea- 
men, who  fired  seventy  broadsides,  whilst  the  enemy 
discharged  but  thirty-six. 

The  Macedonian  was  an  entire  new  ship,  and  had  been 
out  jpf  dock  but  fbur  months.  She  was  brought  into  the 
port  of  New  London^  and  thence  through  the  Sound  to 
New  York,  where  she  was  fitted  out  as  a  38  gun  .frigate, 
and  as  such  bought  into  the  service  of  the  United  States, 
at  the  value  of  two  hundred  thousand  dollars. 

Captedn  Decatur  every  where  received  the  congratula- 
tions of  the  cHizens«    Tlie  legislatures  of  Pennsylvanis 


:..i«iii. 


^iW^. 


8d 


and  Virginia  voted  him  an  elegant  awot^:  the  con„.,_ 
of  the  United  States,  a  gold  medal.  The  corporation  of 
New  York  voted  him  the  freedom  of  the  city  in  a  gold 
box,  and  had  his  portrait  set  up  in  their  gallery  :  and  the 
sf  lect  and  common  councils  of  Philiidelphia,  (In  which 
city  he  waa  born)  voted  him  a  superb  sword  ;  and  ap- 
pointed a  committee,  of  which  captain  John  Mullowney, 
formerly  of  the  United  States  navy,  was  one  ;  who  in 
conjunction  with  miyor  generalJohn  Barker,  then  mayor 
of  the  tity,  were  to  procure  it  to  be  made  of  American 
materials.  This  sword,  was  presented  to  captain  Decatur 
by  the  mayor,  accompanied  by  a  concise  and  appropriate 
adilress,  to  which  he  made  a  pertinent  and  manly  reply. 
Lieutenant  Allen,  first  of  the  ship,  and  lieutenant  Nich- 
olson, received  the  same  honors  from  the  legislature  of 
Virginia. 

On  Lake  Ontario,  the  naval  operations  were  becoming 
every  day  of  more  consequence.  Arrangements  had 
been  made  for  the  augmentation  of  the  fleet,  and  a  large 
ship  was  already  on  the  stocks,  nearly  completed,  and  to 
be  called  the  Madison.  About  the  sixth  of  November, 
commodore  Chauncey,  who  commanded  the  fleet  on  this 
station,  had  some  suspicion  that  three  of  the  enemy's 
squadron  had  proceeded  from  Kingston,  up  the  lake,  with 
troops  to  reinforce  Fort  George.  The  vessels  supposed 
to  have  sailed  in  this  direction,  were  the  Royal  George  of 
Ji6,  the  Duke  of  Gloucester  o{  10,  and  the  Prince  Regeni 
of  H  guns.  Commodore  Chauncey  immediately  sailed 
with  the  brig  Oneida,  of  14  guns ;  the  Governor  Tompkins. 
lieutenant  Brown,  of  6  guns  ;  the  Growler,  lieutenant 
Mix,  of  5  guns ;  the  Conquest,  lieutenant  Elliot,  of  2 
guns  ;  the  General  Hamilton,  lieutenant  MTherson,  of 
6  guns  ;  the  Pert,  Arundle,  of  2  guns  ;  and  the  Julia. 
Frant,  of  one  long  32  pounder— making  in  all  3C  guns. 
As  the  enemy's  vessels  were  expected  to  return  to  Kings- 
ton for  more  troops,  it  was  intended  to  intercept  them  at 
the  False  Ducks,  a  collection  of  islands  which  they  would 
be  obliged  to  pass. 

On  the  8th,  the  squadron  fell  in  with  the  Royal  George. 
and  chased  her  into  the  bay  of  Quinti,  where  she  was  lost 
sight  of  in  the  night.  On  the  morning  of  (he  9th  she  was 
discovered  in  Kingston  Channel.  Signal  was  immediately 
made  for  a  general  chase ;  but  by  the  alternate  prevalence 


m 


■.'^^ff ' 


Wk  - 


85 

and  Virginia  voted  hira  an  elegant  mot^i  the  congrw^*** 
of  the  United  States,  a  gold  medal.  The  corporation  of 
New  York  voted  him  the  freedom  of  the  city  in  a  gold 
box,  and  had  his  portrait  set  up  ii-.  their  gallery  :  and  the 
select  and  common  councils  of  Philndelphia,  (in  which 
city  he  was  born)  voted  him  a  superb  sword  ;  and  ap- 
pointed a  committee,  t)f  which  captain  John  Mullowney, 
formerly  of  the  United  States  navy,  was  one  ;  who  in 
conjunction  with  major  general  John  Barker,  then  mayor 
of  the  city,  were  to  procure  it  to  be  made  of  American 
materials.  This  sword,  was  presented  to  captain  Decatur 
by  the  mayor,  accompanied  by  a  concise  and  appropriate 
address,  to  which  he  made  a  pertinent  and  manly  reply. 
Lieutenant  Allen,  first  of  the  ship,  and  lieutenant  Nich- 
olson, received  the  same  honors  from  the  legislature  of 
Virginia. 

On  Lake  Ontario,  the  naval  operations  were  becoming 
every  day   of  more  consequence.    Arrangements  had 
been  made  for  the  augmentation  of  the  fleet,  and  a  large 
ship  was  already  on  the  stocks,  nearly  completed,  and  to    *» 
be  called  the  Madison,    About  the  sixth  of  November, 
commodore  Chauncey,  who  commanded  the  fleet  on  this 
station,  had  some  suspicion  that  three  of  the  enemy's 
squadron  had  proceeded  from  Kingston,  up  the  lake,  with 
troops  to  reinforce  Fort  George.     The  vessels  supposed 
to  have  sailed  in  this  direction,  were  the  Royal  George  of 
Ji6,  the  Duke  of  Gloucester  o{  10,  and  the  Prince  Regeni 
of  H  guns.     Commodore  Chauncey  immediately  sailed 
with  the  brig  Oneida,  of  14  guns ;  the  Governor  Tompkins, 
lieutenant  Brown,  of  6  guns  ;   the  Growls,  lieutenant 
Mix,  of  5  guns ;  the  Conquest,  lieutenant  Elliot,  of  2 
guns  ;  the  General  Hamilton,  lieutenant  MTherson,  of 
6  guns  ;  the  Pert,  Arundle,  of  2  guns  ;  and  the  Julia, 
Frant,  of  one  long  32  pounder— making  in  all  3C  guns. 
As  the  enemy's  vessels  were  expected  to  return  to  Kinrs- 
ton  for  more  troops,  it  was  intended  to  intercept  them  at     * 
the  False  Ducks,  a  collection  of  islands  which  they  would 
be  obliged  to  pass. 

On  the  8th,  the  squadron  fell  in  with  the  Royal  George, 
and  chased  her  into  the  bay  of  Quinti,  where  she  was  lost 
sight  of  in  the  night.  On  the  morning  of  the  9th  she  was 
discovered  in  Kingston  Channel.  Signal  was  immediately 
made  for  a  general  chase ;  but  by  the  alternate  prevalence 


•i^li^ 


m 


W^^ 


» 


V        vl'    '■  "I   ■ 


.0 


of  squalls  and  ^c^s,  the  squadron  was  led  in  close  puif'suit 
into  the  harbor  of  the  enemy,  at  Kingston.  The  commo- 
dore being  determined  on  boardinti^  her,  though  she  wbs 
sachored  nnder  the  enemy's  batteries,  with  springs  on  her 
cables,  that  she  might  get  all  her  guns  to  bear,  gave  his 
signal  to  that  effect.  At  three  o'clock  the  batteries  open- 
ed their  fire  on  the  fleet,  and  sent  forth  a  tremendous 
shower  of  shot  and  grape.  Lieutenant  Elliot,  of  the 
Conquestj  pushed  Airward,  and  went  in,  in  the  handsomest 
gtyle.  He  was  followed  by  the  Jtifia,  the  Pert,  and  the 
Growler y  in  succession  ;  then  came  up  the  brig,  with  the 
commodore,  then  the  Qeneral  Hamilton,  and  the  Governor 
Tompkitis.  At  twelve  minutes  after  three,  lieutenant  FA- 
liot  opened  his  fire :  at  fifteen  minutes  after  three,  the 
Pertf  Julia^  and  Growler ,  opened  their's.  At  twenty  mi- 
nutes after  three,  the  whole  of  the  batteries  fu-ed  on  the 
brig,  and  she  sustained  mopt  of  the  fire  during  the  remain- 
der of  the  action.  A  little  while  after,  Ihe  commodore 
gave  the  6tte;nal,  "  engage  closer ;"  which  was  instantly 
obeyed.  The  PerV3  gun,  about  this  time,  bursted,  and 
wouoded  her  commander,  who  refusing  to  leave  the  deck, 
was  knocked  overboard  by  the  boem,  and  drowned.  At 
forty  minutes  past  three,  the  brig  opened  her  fire  on  the 
Royal  George,  and  the  Royal  George  on  the  Hamilton. 
The  firing  became  now  very  hot,  and  was  kept  up  %ith 
the  greatest  alacrity  until  four  o'clock,  when  the  Rvyd 
Gerrge  cut  her  cables  and  ran  away,  further  up  the  bay. 
The  squadron  became  exposed  to  the  cross  hre  of 
five  batteries  of  flying  artilleiy,  in  all  about  forty  guns, 
»M  the  guns  of  the  ship  the  Royal  George  ,-  which  hav- 
ing taken  a  more  advantageous  position,  set  new 
springs,  and  recommenced  her  fire.  Round  and  grape 
were  now  failing  round  the  squadron  in  heavy  showers. 
Ai  half  an  hour  after  four,  the  whole  hauled  by  tjie  wind 
and  beat  out  of  the  bay ;  two  miles  from  which  they 
anchered,  in  full  sight,  until  the  10th  ;  and  after  re- 
mi'ining  there  nearly  all  that  day,  ihcy  returned  to  Sack- 
cfs  Harbor,  with  the  loss  of  one  man  killed  and  three 
wounded  on  board  the  Oneida.  Whilst  at  the  mouth  of 
Kingston  Harbor,  the  commodore  captured  a  schooner, 
Hnd  as  she  could  not  heat  out  with  the  ^Quadron,  he  or- 
dered the  Growler  to  take  her  under  convoy,  to  run  down 
past  Kingston,  and  anchor  on  the  east  end  of  Long  Island, 


m 


81? 

under  an  expectation  that  the  Royal  CkM-ge  would  be  in* 
duced  to  come  out  to  recapture  her ;  but  her  commander, 
fearing  that  the  squadron  might  be  close  at  hand,  would 
not  leave  his  moorings.  The  Royal  George  suffered  very 
severely  in  her  hull,  as  a  nu.nber  of  32-pound  shot  pierced 
her  through  and  through.    The  Growler  having  in  vain 
tried  to  induce  the  enemy  to  come  out,  sailed  with  the 
prize  schooner  far  Sacket's  Harbor.     On  her  way  she 
discovered  the  Prince  Regent  and  the  EarlMoiraoi  18 
guns,  convoying  a  sloop  to  Kingston.     She  immediately 
ran  in  and  placed  herself  behind  a  point,  with  her  prize, 
until  the  armed  vessels  had  passed  her,  when  she  ran  out 
again,  pressed  down  upon  the  sloop ,  captured  and  brought 
her  into  Sacket's  Harbor,  having  on  ^ard  about  12,000 
itollara  in  specie,  and  captain  Brock,  cousin  and  private 
secretary  to  general  Brock,  together  with  that  general*8 
private  property  and  baggTige.    The  commodore  immedi- 
ately put  off  in  a  snow  storm,  with  a  hope  of  cutting  off 
the  Eurl  Moira  at  the  False  Ducks.     Captain  Brock  ex- 
liressed  great  surprise  on  iearning  that  the  Americans  had 
been  in  the  British  harbor,  and  that  they  had  got  out 
again  with  so  little  loss,  the  place  being  so  strongly  defended. 
Commodore  Chauncey  not  having  succeeded  in  inter- 
cepting the  Eml  of  Moira,  returned  again  to  the  harbor, 
and  made  preparations  for  completing  the  new  ship  MaM- 
son,  which  being  finished  on  the  26th  of  November,  was 
launched  into  her  deslined  element  without  accident.      ' 
About  this  time,  the  American  privateers  were  floating 
in  every  direction  on  the  ocean.    They  cruized  before  the 
entrances  of  most  of  the  British  colonial  ports,  and  rely^ 
mg  on  the  swiftness  of  their  sailing,  many  of  the:n  had 
ventured  into  the  chops  of  the  British  Channel!    The 
alarm  which  was  in  consequence  esfcited  among  the  mer- 
chants of  Great  Britain,  and  the  vast  number  of  captures 
which  were  making  by  tliese  vessels,  induced  the  English 
government  to  fit  out  several  sloops  of  war  for  the  pro* 
tection  of  their  coast.    The  brig  Charyhdis,  of  eighteen 
J2  pounders,  and  the  Opossum  sloop  of  war,  were  order- 
ed to  cruise  for  several  privateers,  which  were  then 
known  to  be  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  coast,  and  which 

or  the  oiher  of  these  Rrmed  vessels.    The  Charybdit  feH 
m  with  the  privateer  Blockade  of  New  York,  of  8  guns  ; 


^' 


ee 


U  'lid  i 


and  after  an  obstliiate  engagement  of  one  hour  c^id  twen> 
ty  minutes,  in  which  the  CfwrybdMlost  twenty-eight  of  her 
officers  and  meii  killed  and  wounded,  and  the  Blockade 
eight  men  only,  the  latter  was  carried,  and  taken  into 
port,  l^e  Opossum  encountered  the  **  Or^rs  in  Coun- 
cil" a  small  privateer,  who  fought  Jier  until  they  had  ex- 
changed seven  broadsides,  when,  finding  the  enemy's 
force  to  be  too  powerful^  zhts  abandoned  the  contest,  and 
eflTected  her  escape. 

The  privateer  Tom,  captain  Wilson,  of  Baltimore,  on 
the  23d  of  November,  descried  a  sail,  gave  chase,  over- 
hauled, and  brought  her  to  an  action,  which  terminated  in 
the  surrender  of  the  enemy,  with  the  loss  of  her  captain 
nnd  four  men  killed,  and  several  wounded.  She  proved 
to  be  the  British  packet  Towiwenrf,  M'Coy,  from  Fal- 
mouth for  Barbadoes.  Her  mail  had  been  thrown  over- 
board, but  was  picked  up  by  the  Tom's  boats ;  and  after 
being  ransomed,  she  was  suffered  to  proceed. 

The  Bona  privateer,  of  Baltiiibre,  having  discovered  a 
British  ship  of  eight  hundred  tons,  and  22  guns,  then  on 
a  voyage  from  Madeira,  ran  up  and  engaged  her,  when 
the  great  gun  bursted,  and  captain  Dameron  put  twenty- 
nine  officers  and  men  into  his  boats,  and  dispatched  them 
to  board  her.  After  a  severe  fight  upon  her  decks,  they 
earned  her  with  little  loss.  Two  strange  sail  at  this  mo- 
ment coming  up  in  chase,  the  Bona  left  the  prize  in  pos- 
session of  those  on  board,  and  bore  away,  to  draw  the 
chasing  vessels  after  her. 

The  privateer  Dolphin,  captain  W.  S.  Stafford,  of  ten 
guns  and  sixty  men,  also  of  Baltimore,  being  off  Cape 
St.  Vincent,  engaged  a  ship  of  sixteen  guns  and  forty 
men,  and  a  brig  of  ten  guns  and  tweiUy-five  men,  at  the 
same  instant ;  and  after  a  long  and  gallant  action,  made 
prizes  of  both.  The  Dolphin  had  four  men  wounded; 
the  ep«^my  19  killed  and  40  wounded,  among  (hem  the 
captain  of  one  of  the  vessels.  Instances  of  the  bold 
and  daring  intrepidity  of  the  crews  of  the  private  armed 
vessels  of  the  United  States,  are  so  numerous,  that  the 
recital  of  them  would  swell  this  work  very  far  beyond 
the  limits  which  have  been  assigned  to  it.  The  enemy's 
commerce  was  every  where  asHaUed  hy  thenar  and  the 
British  government  were  obliged  to  protect  their  mer- 
chant ships  by  large  convoys  of  vessels  of  war. 


%'■ 


A  plan  had  been  matured  at  the  nary  department  for  a 
eruiscin  the  South  Seas,  and  the  frigate  VwM^uftow,  now 
commanded  by  commodore  William  Bainbridge,  the  J5s- 
sexy  captain  Porter,  and  the  Honte^  captain  Lawrence, 
were  selected  to  prosecute  the  voyage  in  company.    On 
the  27th  of  October  the  Essex  sailed  from  the  Delaware, 
and  on  the  30th  the  Consiiiviwn  and  Horne/ from  Boston ; 
several  places  of  rendezvous  having  been  assigned,  at 
either  of  which  this  force  was  to  be  united,  to  proceed 
upon  the  cruize.    On  the  29th  of  December,  the  union  of; 
these  vessels  had  not  yet  been  effected  j  and  on  that  day 
the  Constitution  descried  a  sail  at  meridian  in  lat.  13  deg. 
6min.  S.  »ng.  38  W.  ten  leagues  from  St.  Salvador, 
which  she  soon  discovered  to  be  a  British  frigate.    Com- 
modore Bainbridge  tacked  sail  and  stood  for  her.    At  50 
minutes  past  1  p.  m.  the  enemy  bore  down  with  an  intention 
of  raking  the  Constitution,  which  she  avoided  by  wearing. 
Much  mancBUvcring  took  place  on  both  sides,  the  object  of 
the  enemy  being  to  rake,  and  of  the  Constitution  to  avoid 
being  raked,  and  to  draw  the  enemy  from  the  neutral 
coast.    At  2  P.  M.  the  enemy  was  within  half  a  mile  of 
the  ConstitutioUf  and  to  windward,  having  hauled  down 
his  colors,  except  the  union  jack,  which  was  at  the  mizen 
mast  head.    A  gun  was  then  fired  ahead  of  him,  to  make 
him  show  his  colors  ;  but  this  gun  was  answered  by  a 
whole  broadside.    The  enemy's  colors  were  then  hoisted, 
and  the  action  began  with  round  and  grape  j  but  he  kept 
at  so  great  a  distance,  that  the  grape  had  little  effect,  and 
to  bring  him  nearer,  would  expose  the  Constittdion  to  se- 
vere raking.      At  30  minutes  past  two,  both  ships  were 
withm  good  canister  distance,  when  the  Constitution's 
wheel  was  shot  away.    At  40  minutes  past  two.  the  fore 
and  main  sail  were  set,  and  commodore  Bainbridge  being 
now  determined  to  close  with  him,  luffed  up  for  that 
purpose,  and  in  ten  minutes  after,  the  enemy's  jib-boom 
got  foul  of  the  Constitution's  mizen  rigging,  and  in  anoth- 
er ten  minutes  his  bowsprit  and  jib-boom  were  shot  away. 
At  five  mmutes  past  three,  his  main  topmast  was  shot 
away  just  above  the  cap.    This  was  followed  by  the  loss 
of  his  gaff  and  spanker  boom,  and  soon  after,  his  main- 
...  trrt  TTcut  Mcarjj   uy  mc  Doard.    ill  iivc  iiiiuutes  past 
four,  the  enemy  was  completely  silenced,  and  his  colors 
at  the  mam  being  down,  it  was  thought  he  had  surrender- 


90 


eti  The  ComUhition  therefore  shot  ahead  io  repaip  <la- 
magies^  which  being  done,  and  the  cnemy^s  flag  being  dis- 
covered to  t>e  still  flying,  §he  wore,  stood  for  the  enemy 
in  handsome  style,  and  got  close  athwart  his  bows  in  an 
effectual  position  for  raking,  when  his  mainmast  having 
also  gone  by  the  board,  and  seeing  that  further  resistance 
would  be  useless  whilst  he  lay  so  unmanageable  a  wreck, 
he  struck  his  colours,  and  was  immediately  taken  posses- 
sion of  by  lieutenant  Parker,  and  found  to  be  his  majesty's 
ship  Jmai  of  38  guns  but  mounting  49,  commanded  by  a 
distinguished  officer,  captain  Lambert,  who  was  mortally 
wounded  and  having  on  board,  at  the  commencement  of 
the  engagement  upwards  of  four  hundred  menyend  one  hun- 
dred supernumerary  seamen  which  she  was  carrying  but  to 
the  East  Indies,  for  dififerent  ships  there.  The  ConstUution 
had  nine  men  killed,  and  twenty-five  wounded.  The  Jlawa, 
sixty  killed  and  one  hundred  and  seventy  wounded.  She 
had  on  board  despatches  for  St.  Helena,  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  and  th^  different  establishments  in  the  East  Indies 
and  China,  and  copper  for  a  74,  building  at  Bombay.  She 
had  on  board,  also,  a  number  of  passengers,  among  whom 
lyere  lieutenan*  general  Hislop,  governor  of  Bombay,  ma- 
jor Walker,  and  one  staff  major,  captain  Marshall,  a  mas- 
ter and  commander  in  the  royal  navy,  and  several  officers 
appointed  to  ships  in  the  East  Indies. 

The  conduct  of  both  officers  and  crew,  in  this  engage- 
ment,  was  not  less  conspicuous  for  gallantry  than  in  tliat 
with  the  Gtierneret  and  the  same  principles  of  humanity 
influenced  their  deportment  to  the  prisoners. — ^Among  the 
wounded  were  the  commodore  and  lieutenant  Aylwin, 
the  latter  of  whom  received  a  ball  immediately  under  the 
collar  bone,  (within  an  inch  of  his  former  wound,)  of  which 
he  died  at  sea,  on  the  28th  January.  Upon  the  call  for 
boarders,  he  had  mounted  the  quarter  deck  hammock 
cloth,  and  was  in  the  act  of  firing  his  pistols  at  the  ene- 
my, when  the  ball  passed  through  his  shoulder  blade  and 
threw  him  upon  the  deck.  Midshipman  Delany,  who  had 
been  at  his^ide  in  both  the  actions  of  the  ConstitutioD, 
bore  him  to  the  side  of  the  mast,  and  ordered  two  men 
from  his  own  division  to  carr^  him  below,  but  such  was 
hiB  Keal  for  the  success  of  ^e  ship,  that  he  would  not 
suffer  a  single  man  to  be  taken  from  his  station,  nor  would 
he  consent  to  leave  the  deck,  until  he  saw  the  issue  o^ 


91 

the  battle.  Among  the  of&cers  who  distioguished  them^ 
selves,  were  lieutenant  Parker,  the  Qrst  officer  of  the  ship, 
and  midshipmen  James  Delany,  of  Pennsylvania,  apd, 
Jolin  Packet,  of  Jefferson  county,  Virginia;  the  latter  of 
v^hom  was  entrusted  with  the  despatches  from  commor 
dore  Bainbridge  to  the  navy  department,  and  has  since 
been  promoted  to  a  lientenantcy .  Many  of  the  seamen  ex- 
hibited a  most  uncommon  degree  of  heroism:  one  of  them, 
John  Cheves,  after  being  mortally  wounded,  remained  on 
deck,  apparently  dying,  until  the  termination  of  the  en- 
gagement, when,  the  word  being  passed  that  the  enemy 
iiad  struck,  he  raised  himself  Up  v/ith  one  hand,  gave  three 
cheers,  and  fell  back  and  expired.  His  brother  was  also 
severely  wounded. 

On  the  first  of  January,  (nautical  time)  commodore 
Bainbridge,  upon  being  informed  by  lieutenant  Parker, 
that  the  prize  was  in  such  a  condition  that  many  repairs 
would  be  required  to  render  her  at  all  manageable,  and 
kirowing  the  immense  distance  at  which  he  then  ^m  from 
any  port  in  the  United  States,  and  how  much  he  would 
be  obliged  to  weaken  his  crew,  to  man  the  prize  properly, 
determined  on  blowing  her  up,  which  he  accordingly  did 
at  3  P.  M.  with  every  valuable  article  on  board  of  her, 
except  the  prisoners'  baggage.  To  these  he  administered 
every  comfort  which  his  means  could  afford;  and  at  St. 
Salvador,  at  which  place  he  landed  the  remaining  crew 
of  the  Java,  he  received  the  public  acknowledgements  of 
lieutenant  general  Hislop  to  that  effect,  accompanied  by 
the  presentation,  of  an  elegant  sword.  Captain  Lambert 
had  received  a  mortal  wound  in  the  early  part  of  the  en- 
gagement, and  was  in  so  languishing  a  situation,  that  he 
could  not  be  removed  from  the  Java  until  her  destruction 
was  resolved  on;  after  which  the  commodore  directed  his 
course  to  St.  Salvador  to  land  and  parole  him.  On  ar- 
riving in  that  port,  he  landed  the  private  passengers  with- 
out considering  them  prisoners  of  war,  and  released  the 
public  passengers,  and  the  officers  and  crew,  amounting  to 
three  hundred  and  fifty-one  men,  on  their  parole,  on  con- 
dition of  their  returning  to  Englr^id  and  remaining  there, 
without  serving  in  any  of  their  un  'essional  capacities  un- 
til they  should  be  regularly  exchanged. 

At  St.  Salvador  the  Constitution  met  the  sloop  of  war 
the  Hornet,  with  whom  she  had  parted  a  few  days  before 

12 


Ml 


lit-  i 


-iKi 


02 

rtie  engagement,  and  leaTing  that  yessel  to  blockade  the 
Bntush  sloop  of  war  the  Bonne  Citoyenm,  commodore 
Bainbridge  broke  up  the  intended  cruise  in  the  South  Seas 
and  returned  to  the  United  States.  Here  he  was  greeted 
with  the  applauses  of  his  countrymen,  and  received  the 
freedom  of  the  city  of  New  York  m  a  gold  box;  a  piece 
of  plate  fiom  the  citizens  of  Philadelphia,  the  thanks  of 
"".^H^i^r.  1^***®  legislatures,  and  a  medal  from  congress, 
with  fifty  thousand  dollars  for  himself,  offieers  and  crew. 
iTie  legislature  of  Virginia  voted  a  handsome  sword  to 
midshipman  Packet  of  their  state,  and  their  approbation 
to  the  officers  generally. 

The  comparative  force  of  the  two  vessels,  has  been 
subject  of  much  prevarication,  'as  well  as  of  the  number 
of  men  m  eax:h.     Captain  Lambert  having  expired  at  St. 
Salvador,  it  became  the  duty  of  lieutenant  Chads,  first 
officer  of  the  Java,  to  make  an  official  communication  of 
the  affair  to  his  government.    That  officer,  unmindful  of 
the  generous  magnanimity  with  which  he  had  been  treat- 
ed,  endeavoured  to  take  away  from  the  credit  of  the 
American  commodore,  by  underrating  the  number  of  the 
British  crew,  and  the  actual  force  of  the  British  ship;  and 
by  very  largely  overrating  the  force  and  crew  of  the  Con- 
stitution,    He  reported  her  force  to  be  32  long  twent'-four 
pounders,  16  carronades  (32  pounders,)  and  1  carronade 
eighteen  pounder,  being  in  all  58  guns.    The  actual  force 
of  the  Constitution  was,  30  twenty-four  pounders  on  her 
gun  deck,  16  thirty-two  pounds  carronades  on  her  quarter 
deck,  and  8  guns  on  the  forecastle,  making  in  all  54  guns. 
The  Java  carried  28  twenty-four  pounders  on  her  gun 
deck,  14  thirty-two  pounders,  carronades,  6  guns  on  the 
forecastle,  and  1  shi^lting  gun,  making  in  all  49  guns,  which 
the  lieutenant  stated  af  forty-six. 

Assurances  were  given  to  commodore  Bainbridge,  by 
the  officers  of  the  Java,  that  the  ship  left  England  with  a 
crew  which  did  not  exceed  three  humired  and  twenty 
men;  but  the  prisoners  received  on  board  the  Constitution 
very  far  exceeded  that  number,  and  when  the  muster 
book  of  the  Java  was  found  and  examined,  it  called  for 

^^"L!!""'!'!!!*  w?^°^°''^*^.^''!^P^^*^  **  seamen  and 

-^anses,  so  mat  tnciriosa  iii  kilku  uiust  have  been  great- 
er than  they  reported. 


CHAPTER  Vin. 

Contemplated  movement  of  the  Brilish  and  Indians  from 
Maiden  to  Fremhtown-Baille,  between  the  advance  of 
both  armm,  and  the  defeat  of  the  British^Caplure  of 
general  Winchester's  force,  and  massacre  of  the  prisoners 

ZTf  f  f^^^'iS^-DudleyV victory^His  defeat 
and  death^Sortte  from  the  garrison^Siege  of  fort 
J^gs  raised-Council  of  the  Indian  chifl-Collncl 
Jialt  destroys  a  party  of  the  hostile  Indians. 

EXASPERATED  at  the  successes  of  the  American 
TOlunteer  troops,  in  their  repeated  assaults  upon  the  Indian 
posts  along  the  north  western  frontier,  the  enemy  resolved 
upon  an  immediate  movement  of  his  combined  forces,  to 
the  village  of  Frenchtown,  with  a  view  to  intercept  the 
American  expedition,  in  its  further  approaches  towards 
Detroit.     In  the  event  of  this  movement,  which  was  now 
(January)  every  day  looked  for,  the  inhabitants  of  French- 
town  were  apprehensive  of  being  massacred,  and  they 
therefore  implored  general  Winchester  to  march  to  their 
protection,  though  the  troops  at  that  time  under  his  com- 
mand, were  far  inferior  in  numbers  to  the  collected  force 
by  which  m  all  probability  they  would  be  assailed    With- 
nilT  previous  concert  with  general  Harrison  as  to  the 
plan  of  operations,  and  without  his  knowledge  or  authori- 
lliS-rf  "^'T^^^^^'^  yielding  to  the  solicitation  of  thl 
fn!l   ?K    '  ^^J^^'^J^ed  "Pon  marching  with  his  small 
force,  then  reduced  to  eight  hundred  men  by  the  dis- 
charge of  those  reghnents  whoae  term  of  service  had  ex- 
JnA^   4^^?^^'  if  possible,  the  destruction  of  the  village 

lieut  1    wr°^^f""^^'^^*^'^^^^^^  On  the  17th, 

Ueut.  col.  Wilham  Lewis  was  ordered  to  proceed  with  a 

detachment  to  Presqueisle,  where  he  was  to  wait  the  arri- 
val of  a  reinforcement  of  anothei-  d«>*n''H»-^""#  —  l-  »• 
tenant  tolonel  Alto,  whkh  wTuwloii  aiw  brftSLwed: 

I8lh,  the  two  Uetachments  concentrated  at  Fre^ueUle 


( 


i ; .  I 


94 

when  colonel  Lewis,  liaring  been   informed,  that  an 
advance  party  of  the  British  and  Indiana,   amounting 
to  about  five  hundred,  were  already  encamped  at  French- 
town,  immediately  determined  on  attacking  them.    A  ra- 
pid march  brought  him  within  their  view  at  about  3  o'clock. 
At  three  miles  distance,  he  wai  apprized  of  their  bemg 
prepared  to  receive  him,  and,  lest  they  should  sally  out  and 
suddenly  encounter  him,  he  arranged  his  men  in  the  order 
of  battle,  and  approached  with  caution  to  the  margin  of 
the  river.    The  command  of  the  right  wing,  composed  of 
the  companies  of  captains  M'Cracken,  Bledsoe,  and  Mat- 
ron was  assigned  to  lieutenant  colonel  Allen.    The  com- 
mand of  the  left,  composed  of  the  companies  of  captains 
Hamilton,  Williams,  and  Kelly,  tP  major  Graves.    Major 
Madison  was  placed  in  the  centre,  with  the  companies  of 
captain  Hightower,  of  the  ITUi  U.  S  infantry,  and  captains 
Collier  and  Sabrie.  Captain  Ballard,  acting  as  major,  was 
sent  in  advance  with  two  companies,  commanded  by  cap- 
tains Hickman  and  Glaves.  Thus  organized,  the  whole  bo- 
dy came  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  the  enemy.   The  ri- 
ver only  separated  them.  The  line  was  then  displayed,  and 
the  passage  of  the  river  was  attempted,  under  a  fire  from 
a  howitzer  which  the  enemy  directed  against  the  volunteers 
with  little  effect.    The  line  remained  firm,  and  marched 
across  the  ice  to  the  opposite  shore,  at  the  very  moment 
when  the  signal  was  given  for  a  general  charge.    Majors 
Graves  and  Madison  were  instantly  ordered  to  assail  the 
houses  and  picketing,  in,  and  about  which,  the  enemy  hart 
collected  and  arrayed  his  cannon,  before  this  charge  could 
be  made   The  two  battalions  advanced  with  great  velocity, 
under  an  incessant  shower  of  bullets,  carried  the  picketing 
with  ease,  dislodged  the  British  and  Indians,  and  drove 
them  into  the  woods.    Lieutenant  colonel  Alien  made  a 
simultaneous  movement  upon  the  enemy's  left,  then  at  a 
considerable  distance  from  the  remainder  of  his  troops,  and 
after  one  or  two  spirited  charges,  compelled  him  to  break, 
and  drove  him  more  than  a  mile ;  after  which,  he  took 
shelter  in  the  same  wood,  to  which  the  right  had  retired. 
Here  the  two  wings  concentrated,  and,  being  covered  by 
Av.^  ^iir-.--^e3  of  sevftpal  enclosed  lots  and  a  fflroup  of  houses, 
^"th  a  aick  and  brushy  wood,  and  a  quantity  of  fallen 
timber  in  the  rear,  they  made  a  stand  with  their  howitzer 
and  email  arms.    Colonel  AUen  was  still  advancmg  with 


96 


the  right  wing  of  the  American  detachment,  and  wa^  exr 
posed  to  the  fire  of  the  whole  body  of  the  enemy.  Majors 
Graves  and  Madison,  were  then  directed  to  move  up  with 
the  left  and  the  centre,  to  make  a  diversion  in  favour  of  the 
right.  Thdr  fire  had  just  commenced  when  the  right 
wing  advanced  upon  the  enemy's  front.  A  sanguinary 
fight  immediately  followed;  the  houses  were  desperately 
assailed,  the  British,  who  were  stationed  behind  the  fences, 
were  vigorously  charged,  and  the  enemy  a  third  time  fled. 
Rapid  pursuit  was  instantly  given  to  him.  The  British 
and  Indians  drew  the  Americans  into  the  wood  in  their 
rear,  and  again  rallying  their  forces,  several  times  intre 
pidly  attempted,  under  the  direction  of  major  Reynolds, 
to  break  the  American  line.  The  fight  became  close  and 
extremely  hot  upon  the  right  wing,  but  the  whole  line 
maintiuned  its  ground,  repulsed  every  attempt,  followed 
up  the  -enemy  each  time  as  he  fell  back,  and  kept  him 
two  miles  on  the  retreat,  under  a  continual  charge.  At 
length,  after  having  obstinately  contended  against  the 
American  arms  upwards  of  three  hours,  the  British  and 
Indians  were  entirely  dispersed,  and  carrying  off  all  their 
wounded  and  as  many  of  their  dead  as  ihey  could  collect, 
they  retired  from  the  field,  leaving  fifteen  of  their  warriors 
behind.  The  American  less  amounted  to  twelve  killed 
and  fifty-five  wounded.  The  gallantry  of  the  officers  oT 
the  detachments  left  no  chance  of  discrimination  to  th6 
commandant.  Most  of  them  haye  been  aiready  mention- 
ed in  reference  to  their  conduct  on  other  occasions.  The 
coolness  of  the  men  was  such,  that  whilst  they  were  as- 
saulting and  driving  the  enemy  from  the  houses,  not  a 
woman  or  child  inhabiting  them  was  hurt*  Colonel  Lewia 
encamped  upon  the  same  ground  which  had  been  prevt- 
ously  occupied  by  the  enemy.  He  had  captured  some 
public  property,  and  protected  the  inhabitants  thus  far 
from  the  apprehended  cruelty  of  the  Indians,  and  he  now 
made  preparations  to  maintain  his  position  until  he  should 
he  joined  by  general  Winchester.  | 

On  the  20th,  the  troops  under  general  Winchester  arri- 
ved, and  when  the  whole  were  concentrated  they  did  not 
exceed  seven  hundred  and  fifty  men.  Six  hundred  were 
posted  in  pickets,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  composing 
the  right  wing  were  encauijieu  in  an  open  field.  On  the 
morning  of  the  2iSnd,  at  reveillie,  a.coiubUied  force  unde? 


I 


99 

TecutDseh  and  colonel  Proctor,  of  two  thotMaod  one 
hundred  men,  attacked  the  encampment.  The  alarm  gun 
was  immediately  fired,  and  the  troops  ready  for  the  recejp- 
tion  of  the  assailants.  The  attack  commenced  with  a 
heavy  ire  of  small  arms,  and  the  discharge  of  six  pieces  of 
artillery,  directed  immediately  at  the  temporary  breast- 
work, behind  which  the  left  wing  was  stationed.  The 
right  wing  was  attacked  with  great  Tiolence,  and  sustained 
the  conflict  about  twenty  minutes,  but  being  outnumbered 
and  overpowered,  was  obliged  to  retreat  across  the  river. 
Two  companies,  of  fifty  men  each,  sallied  out  of  the 
breastwork  to  their  asustance,  but  retreated  with  them. 
A  large  body  of  Indians  had  been  stationed  in  the  rear 
of  the  encampment  before  the  attack  commenced,  who 
either  made  prisoners  of,  or  cut  off,  the  retreatii^  party. 
The  left  wing  maintained  its  ground  within  the  pickete. 
Three  furious  onsets  were  made  upon  it  by  the  Britidi 
41st,  each  of  which  was  received  with  distinguished  cool* 
ness,  and  eaidh  of  which  terminated  in  the  repulse  of  the 
enemy.  In  the  desperate  resistance  which  was  made  to 
the  charges  of  this  regiment,  thirty  of  its  men  were  killed, 
and  between  ninety  and  one  hundred  wounded.  When 
the  right  wing  was  discovered  to  be  retreating,  every  ef- 
fort was  uiwd  to  form  them  in  some  order  of  action, 
either  to  repel  the  pursuers,  or  to  regain  the  temporary 
breastwork,  from  behind  which,  the  remainuig  part  of  the 
troops  were  still  gallantly  defending  themselves.  General 
Winchester's  head  quarters  were  several  hundred  yards 
from  the  encampment,  he  therefore  was  not  in  the  first 
of  the  engagement,  but  he  had  no  sooner  arrived  at  the 
ground,  than  he,  colonel  Lewis,  and  some  others,  who 
were  attempting  to  rally  the  flying  ri^t  wing,  were  taken 
prisoners.  The  remainder  of  the  battle  was  fought  in  confu- 
sion, and  was  rather  a  proof  of  the  invincible  bravery  of  the 
Americans,  than  of  any  regard  which  they  had  for  the  order 
of  the  fight.  They  saw  the  great  disparity  of  force,  and  knew 
how  muc||  their  own  had  been  weakened  by  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  right  wing.  But  they  continued  to  repel  every 
charge  of  the  assailants,  until  1 1  o^clock,  when  an  order 
was  received,  by  a  flag  from  the  enemy,  by  which  it  ap- 
peared, that  general  Winchester  was  assured,  that  unless 
the  troops  of  his  commcmd  were  immediately  surrender- 
ed, the  buildings  in  Frenchtown  would  be  set  on  fire, 


d7 


and  that  no  yesponsibility  would  be  taken  for  th«  conduct 
of  the  savages,  who  composed  the  largest  part  of  the  ene- 
mys  force ;  that  to  save  the  lives  of  the  remaining  portion 
of  his  brave  troops,  he  had  agreed  to  surrender  them  pri- 
soners of  war,  on  condition  of  their  being  protected  from 
the  savages,  of  their  being  allowed  to  retain  their  private 
property,  and  of  having  their  side  arms  returned  to  them. 
Thirty-five  officers,  and  four  hundred  and  eighty-seven 
non  commissioned  officers  and  privatet  were  accordingly 
surrendered,  aftev  iiaving  fought  with  small  arms,  against 
artillery,  for  six  hours  j  and  being  all  that  time  surrounded 
by  Indians  resorting  to  their  usual  terrific  yells.  The  loss 
of  tlie  Americans  was  twenty -two  officers,  and  two  hun- 
tlred  and  seventy-five  non  commissioned  officers  and  pri- 
vates killed  and  missing,  and  three  officers  and  twenty-two 
privates  wounded,  who  were  among  the  prisoners  surren* 
dered.  The  enemy's  loss,  except  that  of  the  41  st  regulars, 
could  not  be  ascertained,  every  means  being  used  to  pre- 
vent a  discovery.  It  has  been  supposed,  however,  that 
it  was  little  less  than  that  of  the  Americans.  Colonel 
Proctor  afterwards  stated  it,  in  his  official  communication, 
to  be  twenty-four  kilied,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty-eight 
wounded. 

The  events  which  followed  the  surrender  of  the  Ame- 
rican arms,  were  of  such  a  nature  as  to  make  the  heart  of 
man  recoil  from  their  recital,  and  to  deprive  the  historian 
o(&  later  day,  of  that  degree  of  temperance  which  ought 
ever  to  be  inseparable  from  candid  and  impartial  narra- 
tion. Facts,  which  have  been  established  beyond  the 
possibility  of  doubt;  which  have  been  testified  by  the  so- 
lemn affirmations  of  the  officers  of  the  oaptured  army,  and 
admitted  by  those  of  the  enemy ;  which  took  place  im- 
mediately under  the  eye  of  flie  conquering  commander, 
and  which  were  sanctioned  by  his  presence,  ought  not  to 
be  withheld  from  the  worid;  the  fidelity  of  history  will 
not  allow  them  to  be  magnified,  nor  can  they  in  justice 
be  extenuated. 

Destitute  of  the  common  principles  of  sacred  humanity, 
and  regardless  of  the  civilized  usages  of  honourable  war- 
fare, the  allied  British  and  Indian  forces,  no  sooner  re- 
ceived tjie  surrender  of  the  vanquished,  ttiou^  brave  de- 
iCiiuers  of  ibe  iiivaded  territory,  iban  ibcy  assailed  them 


WKKKf:  '■^' 

"^."^•i 

■ill 

wmr 

98 

Wifti  their  tomhawka  and  scalping  knives,  and  slripiied 
\Uem  of  their  propec^y  and  clothing.  When  the  nght  wing 
fell  back,  and  about  forty  men,  under  lieutenant  Isaac  L. 
Baker,  were  attempting  to  escape,  an  offer  of  protectioh 
was  made  to  them,  on  condiUon  of  their  surrender.    Lieu- 
tennnt  Buker  very  gladly  yielded  to  the  proiwsal  for  the 
safely  of  his  men,  but  the  proffered  protection  fjd  not  fol- 
low.    One  half  of  his  party  were  butchered  and  left  naked 
on  the  field,  and  himself  and  the  remainder  were  marched 
back  to  colonel  Proctor's  camp.    They  gave  up  their 
arms  to  the  Indians,  and  defenceless  as  they  were,  many 
of  them  who  brought  up  the  rear  as  prisoners,  were  mas- 
sacred on  the  march.    When  general  Winchester  was  cap- 
tured,  in  the  act  of  pursuing  and  rallying  the  right  wing, 
the  same  solemn  assurances  of  protection  were  given  to 
him,  on  condition' of  his  ordering  the  whole  detachment 
to  surrender.     His  humanity  induced  him  to  comply;  but 
when  the  troops  were  brought  within  the  British  camp, 
their  side  arms  and  accoutrements  were  taken  from  them 
and  presented  to  the  savages.     They  were  then  left  in 
custody  of  the  Indians,  who  were  instructed  to  follow  the 
British  regulars  to  Maiden,  to  which  place  the  prisoners 
were  to  be  conducted.     The  wounded  prisoners  were 
more    likely  to  become  the  objects  of  Indian  resent- 
ment, and  the  American  general  remonstrated,  therefore, 
with  the  commanding  British  officer  on  the  necessity  of 
their  being  remoyed  by  the  regulars.     To  this  remon- 
strance, a  pledge  was  given,  that  such  prisoners  should  be 
attended  to.   They  were  left  behind,  however,  and  on  the 
morning  of  the  23d,  the  Indians  fired  many  houses  of  the 
inhabitants,  and  burnt  the  prisonere  who  had  been  pUiced 
within  them.     Being  then  in  readiness  to  march,  they  a^ 
ranged  otiier  prisoners  in  that  order,  and  on  finding  that 
many  of  them  could  not  walk,  in  conseque?       r"  th"  se- 
verity of  their  wounds,  they  immediately  8ti''^r;<.<l  t»  em, 
stood  them  up  for  targets,  and  after  kilUnj^         uu.  h^ed, 
and  scalped  them.     Numbers  of  them  who  attempted  the 
march  to  avoid  so  dreadful  a  fate,  became  exhausted  on 
the  way,  and  received  the  same  treatment  in  the  presence 
oi  th^ji-  afflicted  fellow  prisoners.      Among  those  who 
w:  s'f  '■A:x£6d  in  this  latter  situation,  was  an  officer,  who^e 
c.*^<f  >  ii  ai  the  most  unparaiidcu  ativciiy. 


09 


and  BtrippBd 
he  right  wing 
nant  Isaac  L. 
of  protcctioh 
«nder.    Lieu- 
iposal  for  the 
in  did  not  fol- 
ind  left  naked 
vere  marched 
save  up  their 
y  were,  many 
rs,  were  mas- 
ester  waB  cap- 
tie  right  wing, 
were  given  to 
le  detachment 
J  comply;  but 
British  camp, 
:en  from  them 
e  then  left  in 
1  to  follow  the 
the  prisoners 
irisoners  were 
Indian  resent- 
led,  therefore, 
B  necessity  of 
'o  this  remon- 
ners  should  be 
er,  and  on  the 
r  houses  of  the 
id  been  pUiced 
aarch,  they  a^ 
>n  finding  that 
Bf      r''  th^  se- 
8t)*'*^v;<>!<1  tvem, 

attempted  the 
3  exhausted  on 
in  the  presence 
»ng  those  who 
\  officer,  whose 


u 


..    ^ XT 


O.  S.  Hart,*  of  Lexington,  who  had  on  several  occasibns, 
but  on  this  particularly,  signalized  himself  by  his  undaunt- 
ed bravery,  and  who  received  a  flesh  wound  in  the  knee 
in  the  early  part  of  tl.o  engagement,  on  being  aurrondered 
with  the  trcopb,  was  immediately  recognized  by  colonel 
Elliot,  an  American  by  birth,  wi  >  had  been  a  class  mate 
of  captain  Hart,  at  an  American  college,  and  who  has  long 
been  notorious  for  his  activity  in  exciting  the  savages  to 
arm  themselves  against  bis  fellow  citizens  In  this  action 
he  was  bearing  arms  against  his  own  countrymen,  and  on 
discovering  *he  companion  of  bis  youth,  in  the  hands  of  tb« 
savp  '',es,  he  ielf  that  degree  of  national  sympathy,  of  which 
no  n'an,  however  vile,  can  entirely  divest  himself;  and, 
without  oeing  solicited,  made  a  promise  of  his  protection, 
.  .1  of  providing  a  conveyance  to  Maiden,  which  would 
place  captain  Hart  under  his  superintendance,  until  his  re- 
covery should  be  effected.  But  col.  Elliot's  promise  was 
forgotten,  or  was  made  only  to  be  brokan.  He  departed, 
and  a  band  of  Indians  entered  the  house  in  which  captain 
Hart  lay,  and  tore  him  from  his  bed ;  one  of  his  brother 
ofiicers  then  conveyed  him  to  another  apartment,  where 
he  was  again  assailed.  He  at  length  induced  the  Indiana 
to  take  him  to  Maiden,  under  the  promise  of  a  large  re- 
ward. They  proceeded  but  five  miles  on  the  road  before 
they  shot  him  while  on  his  horse,  and  took  his  scalp. 
The  fate  of  colonel  Allen,  captains  M'Cracken,  Woodfolk, 
Hickman,  and  other  oflicers,  was  no  less  unfortunate  than 
that  of  captain  Hart. 

When  the  surviving  prisoners,  officers  and  men,  arrived 
at  Maiden,  the  savages  were  allowed  \o  sell  them,  and 
many  of  the  American  citizens,  who  had  been  permitted 
to  remain  in  the  town  of  Detroit  for  temporary  purposes, 
stept  forward  to  ransom  them,  but  when  colonel  Proctor 
discovered,  that  by  this  means  they  obtained  their  release, 
he  issued  an  order  forbiddmg  any  future  exchanges  of 
prisoners  for  money.  Most  of  the  officers  and  many  of 
the  men,  among  the  volunteers,  were  of  the  first  re- 
spectability, holding  offices  of  high  trust,  members 
of  the  congress  of  the  United  States,  and  abcustomed 
to    those   refinements    which  result  from  wealth  and 

-waptsiH  ixaft  VVB3  ufother-iu-iaw  to  r*Ir.  Henry  CUy,  ob6  of 
the  American  commissioners  at  Ghent. 

K 


%      I 


■A 


"«* 


100 


ettecation.    They  had  left  the  ease  and  affluence  with 
which  the'r  homes  abounded,  to  obey  the  voice  of  their 
invaded  country,  and  had  encountered  all  kinds  of  hard- 
ships in  their  different  inarches.    These  men,  while  pri- 
#         Boners  at  Maiden,  were  treated  with  thai  haughty  super- 
ciliousness, which  belongs  not  to  the  noble  soldier,  nor  to 
the  enlightened  man.    Judge  Woodward,  of  the  supreme 
court  of  the  Mlclugan  territory,  rendered  every  assistance 
to  the  prisoner?,  within  the  power  of  an  individual,  and 
by  the  influence  which  he  had  acquired  over  the  British 
commander,  greatly  alleviated  their  misfortunes.      He 
boldly  charged  the  enemy  with  the  enormities  which  had 
been  committed,  and  informed  colonel  Proctor,  after  hav- 
ing supplied  him  by  his  own  directions,  with  affidavits 
which  substantiated  all  the  facts,  (hat « the  iruih  would  m^ 
*     »*  doubtedty  eventually  appear,  and  that,  that  unfortunak 
«  day  must  meet  the  steady  and  impartial  eye  of  history:^ 
Colonel  Proctor  extenuated  the  facts,  made  no  denial  of 
their  occurrence,  but  alleged  that  no  capitulation  was  en- 
tered into;  that  the  prisoners  surrendered  at  discretion; 
and  that  therefore  it  was  not  necess  ry  to  controul  the 
Indians.    The  battle  was  ofilcially  announced  to  the  Ca- 
nadian people,  from  the  head  quarters  of  the  commander 
in  chief,  the  governor  general.    His  communication  in- 
formed them,  that  another  brilliant  action  had  been  at- 
chieved  by  the  division  of  the  army  under  colonel  Proc- 
tor ;  and  admitted  that  the  loss  of  the  Americans  was  great, 
because  tlie  Indian  warriors  had  cut  off  all  who  attempted 
to  escape.    The  Indian  chief  Round  Head,  he  said,  had 
rendered  ess.ential  services  by  his  bravery  and  good  con- 
duct, sud  cojoael  Proctor  had  nobly  displayed  his  gal- 
lantry, by  his  humane  niA  unwearied  exertions  in  res- 
cuing the  vanquished  from  the  revenge  of  the  Indians;  for 
which  good  conduct  he  was  promoted,  ontil  the  pleasure 
of  the  Prince  Regent  should  be  known,  to  the  rank  of  a 
>)rigadier  general  in  Upper  Canada.    The  general  orders 
concluded  by  ordering  "a  salute,  of  twenty-one  guns,  to 
be  fired  on  this  glorious  occasion."  ^ 

General  Harrison  having  heard  of  the  exposed  situation 
of  general  Winchester's  troops,  )i&A  ordered  a  dptachment 
fn/^wn  ff^n«ral  Perkifl's  briffadc  to  march  under  major  Cot- 
his  relief;  but  they  did  not  reach  Frenchtown 
battle,  and  immediately  on  their  return  to  tb« 


jroves 


101 

Raprds,  at  which  place  general  Harrison  was  then  station- 
ed, he  fell  back  eighteen  miles  to  the  carrying  river,  in  or- 
der to  force  a  junction  with  the  troops  in  the  rear,  and  t« 
cover  the  convoy  of  artillery  and  stores,  then  coming  from 
Upper  Sandnsky.  From  this  place  he  despatched  a  flag  of 
truce  with  a  surgeon  to  Maiden  to  attend  to  the  captured 
sick  and  wounded;  his  flag  was  not  respected,  however, 
and  one  of  the  surgeon's  companions  was  killed,  and  him- 
self wounded  and  taken  prisoner.  A  strong  desire  now  pre- 
vailed among  the  troops  to  avenge  the  loss  of  their  brav^ 
brethren  in  arms,  and  governor  Meigs  having  promptly 
forwarded  two  regiments  of  Ohio  mintia  to  reinforce  gene- 
ral Harrison,  he  again  advanced  to  the  Rapids  and  com- 
menced building  a  fort,  which  has  since  been  rendered  me- 
morable under  the  name  of  fort  Meigs.  Fortifications  were 
at  L*ie  same  time  constructed  at  Upper  Sandusky,  under  the 
direotion  of  general  Crooks.    Whilst  these  precautionary 
measures  were  adopted  for  the  protection  of  the  troops,  and 
the  defence  ef  the  territory,  detached  parties  were  fretpient- 
ly  indulged  in  short  excursions,  none  of  which  resulted  in 
any  material  advantage.   In  one  of  these,  the  commander 
in  chief,  himself,  marched  to  Presqueisle  at  the  head  of  a 
detachment,  upon  hearing  that  a  body  of  Indians  had  col- 
lected at  that  place;  but  the  Indians  fled,  at  his  approach, 
too  rapidly  to  be  overtaken,  and  he  returned  to  his  en- 
campment, after  having  marched  sixty  miles  in  twenty-one 
hours.  A  few  days  after,  captain  Langham  was  despatched 
to  destroy  the  Queen  Charlotte,  then  laying  near  Maiden; 
but  the  decayed  state  of  the  ice  defeated  the  object  of  the 
expedition.    In  the  commencement  of  April  a  desperate 
affair  took  place  between  an  equal  number  of  Frenchmen 
and  Indians,  who  fought  each  other  in  canoes,  until  the 
greater  part  on  both  sides  were  either  killed  or  wounded ; 
but  no  event  of  any  consequence  occurred  during  the 
remainder  of  the  winter,-  the  unauthorized  movement  of 
general  Winchester  was  entirely  subversive  of  general 
Harrison's  plans,  and  so  contrary  to  his  arrangements, 
that  the  whole  system  of  organization  was  again  to  be 
gone  over.       General  Harrison  therefore  ieft  the  troops 
strengthening  the  posts  of  fort  Meigs,  Upper  Sandusky, 
and  fort  StephenHOii,  whilst  lie  returned  to  Ghio  io  con- 
sult with  the  governor,  to  accelerate  the  march  of  the  re- 
inforeemeuts,  and  to  expedite  the  transportation  of  addi- 


m- 


102 


:fel 


^;  idR'M 


tional  stores.  He  had  rot  been  long  absent  from  fort 
Meigs,  before  the  garrison  was  threatened  with  an  attack. 
New  levies  were  hastily  made  from  Ohio  and  Kentucky, 
but  as  tliey  did  not  arrive  in  time  to  resist  the  enemy, 
now  collecting  in  large  numbers  in  the  neighbourhood, 
the  Pennsylvania  brigade  voluntarily  extended  its  term  of 
service,  which  had  just  then  expired.  Gen.  Harrison  was 
apprized  of  this  circumstance  by  despatch,  and  returned 
With  all  possible  expedition  to  the  garrison.  He  arrived 
on  the  20th  April,  an^^  made  instant  preparation  for  an  ap- 
proaching siege.  J^atroles  and  reconnoitering  parties 
were  constantly  kept  out,  and  on  the  26th  they  reported 
the  enemy—on  that  day  the  advance  of  the  enemy  made 
its  appearance  on  the  opposite  shore,  and  were  discovered 
viewing  the  works;  after  reconnoitering  a  short  time  they 
retired.  On  the  following  day  they  appeared  again;  but  a 
few  eighteen  pound  shot  soon  obliged  them  to  retr^t.  The 
fort  was  situated  on  a  commanding  eminence,  and  was 
well  supplied  with  every  necessary  munition  of  war,  but 
general  Harrison  being  desirous  of  putting  his  men  in  the 
best  possible  state  of  security,  was  every  day  erecting 
fortifications  of  different  descriptions.  The  troops  in  the 
garrison  were  animated  and  zealous  in  the  cause  of  their 
country,  and  their  exertions  were  without  parallel.  On 
the  28th,  captain  HaokUton  was  sent  out  with  a  patrolling 
party.  About  three  miles  down  the  river  he  discovered 
the  enemy  in  great  force,  approaching  fort  Meigs,  and  im- 
mediately communicated  his  discovery  to  the  general. 
An  express  was  then  sent  to  general  Green  Clay,  who 
commanded  a  brigade  of  twelve  hundred  Kentuckians, 
with  an  order  for  his  immediate  march  to  fort  Meigs.  Ge- 
neral Harrison  addressed  the  troops,  informed  them  of  the 
vital  importance  of  every  man's  being  vigilant  and  indus- 
trious at  his  post,  and  received  assurances  that  none  of 
them  would  abandon  their  duty.  A  few  British  and  a 
body  of  Indians  commenced  a  very  brisk  fire  from  the 
opposite  shore,  but  the  distance  was  too  great  to  do  inju- 
ry. Their  fire  was  returned  from  two  18  pounders,  and 
they  retired  and  concealed  themselves  from  the  view  of 
the  fort.  In  the  evening,  the  enemy  crossed  the  river  in 
boats,  and  selected  the  best  situations  about  the  fort,  to 
throw  up  works  for  the  protection  of  their  battering  can- 
non.   The  garrison  was  completely  surrounded,  and  pre- 


-,.^. 


103 


parations  were  active  upon  one  side  to  storm  the  fort,  and 
on  the  other  to  repel  the  most  vigorous  assault.  Several 
dragoons  who  had  oiGfered  to  reconnoitre  the  enemy's 
camp,  had  not  procdeded  far  from  the  fort,  when  they 
were  fired  on,  and  one  of  them  was  shot  through  the  arm. 
Early  on  the  morning  of  the  29th,  the  Indians  fired  into 
the  fort  with  their  Grilles,  and  moitaliy  wounded  a  man 
who  was  talking  with  the  general— a  constant  firing  was 
kept  up  on  both  sides  during  the  whole  day.  Several 
men  in  the  garrison  were  slightly  wounded,  and  a  number 
of  the  enemy  were  killed.  His  batteries  had  been  so  for 
constructed  during  the  night,  that  sufficient  protection  was 
afforded  to  him  to  woik  by  day-light.  Numbers  of  shot 
wet'i  thrown  into  the  breastworks  to  impede  their  pro- 
gress, but  before  night,  he  had  three  batteries  erected,  two 
with  four  embrasures  each,  and  one  bomb  battery.  On 
the  morning  of  the  30th,  the  besiegers  were  discoveied  to 
have  extended  then-  batteries,  and  to  be  preparing  them 
for  the  cannon.  Their  progress  in  doing  this,  was  retarded 
by  a  well  directed  and  constant  fire  from  the  besieged. 
They  were  observed  to  carry  away  men  from  the  batte- 
ries, by  which  it  was  supposed  that  the  fire  from  the  fort 
had  either  killed,  or  wounded  many  of  them.  General 
Harrison,  having  a  suspicion  that  the  enemy  intended  to 
surprise  and  storm  the  garrison  in  its  rear,  from  the  cir^ 
cumatance  of  a  number  of  boats  having  repeatedly  crossed 
from  the  old  British  garrison  to  the  side  on  which  stood 
the  American  fort,  each  loaded  with  men;  he  gave  orders 
for  one-third  of  the  troops  to  be  constantly  on  guard,  and 
the  remainder  to  sleep  with  their  muskets  in  their  arms, 
and  to  be  in  readiness  to  fly  to  their  posts  at  any  moment. 
Ine  Indians  occupied  all  the  advantageous  positions  round 
the  fort,  and  to  this  and  many  other  discouraging  circum- 
stances, was  added  the  want  of  water,  which  was  supplied 
on  y  from  the  river,  whence  a  few  men  were  each  night 
obliged  to  obtain  enough  for  the  garrison  for  the  succeed- 
ing day.  This  they  did  at  an  imminent  risk  of  their  lives, 
the  Indians  being  always  on  the  alert.  Durmg  this  day. 
there  were  several  killed  and  wounded  on  both  sides.  In 
the  night,  a  gun  boat  which  had  been  towed  up  the  river 


fire  at 
and  on 


cMciiij,-,  -.Tus  piacea  ne«r  iiiv  iort,  and  kept  up  a. 


intervals 

J  mwnbgof  May  1st  she  moye^  offj'aftcshi?' 


upon  it.    No  one  ball  entered  it,  howeveri 


■k- 


.-»*?• 


£2 


* 


^■' 


ill 

1'  m 


104 

ins  tUscharged  thirty  shot  without  eflfect    This  morning 
the  grand  traverse,  at  which  the  men  haU  been  some  time 
engaged,  was  nearly  finished,  and  several  inferior  ones 
were  commenced  in  different  directions.    The  American 
garrison  was  now  in  very  excellent  condition,  and  as  soon 
as  the  well  should  be  finished,  would  defy  the  utmost 
power  of  the  besiegers.    At  about  10  o»clock  the  enemy 
had  one  cannon  prepared.    With  that  he  kept  up  a  brisk 
fire.    In  the  course  of  the  day  he  opened  several  pieces 
on  the  fort,  and  before  night  he  hid  in  operation  one  24 
pounder,  one  12,  one  6,  and  a  howitzer,  from  which  he 
fired  two  hundred  and  fifty-six  shot  during  the  day,  and 
four  at  night,  without  doing  any  material  injury  to  fort 
Meigs.;  thouj^  one  man  was  wounded  mortally,  two  bad- 
ly, and  five  slightly;  and  a  ball  struck  a  bench  upon  which 
general  Harrison  was  sitthag.    One  of  their  pieces  was 
silenced  several  times.    On  the  2d  May  the  firing  com- 
menced very  early,  with  bombs  and  balls,  and  contmued, 
until  four  hundred  and  fifty-seven  discharges  were  made 
in  the  day,  and  four  at  night.— American  loss  this  day, 
one  killed  and  ten  wounded,  besides  several  slightty  touch- 
ed.   Numbers  of  the  enemy*8  warriors  were  carried  away 
ft-om  their  batteries  in  blankets.    On  the  3d,  a  fierce  and 
vigorous  fire  of  bombs  and  cannon  balls  commenced  with 
the  day.    Two  batteries,  one  of  which  was  a  bomb  bat- 
tery, were  opened  upon  the  rear  right  angle  of  the  Ame- 
rican fort,  at  a  distance  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  yards. 
Their  fire  was  promptly  returned,  and  several  times  si- 
lenc'id,  but  they  continued  it  at  intervals  during  the  day. 
Six  men  were  killed  in  the  fort,  and  three  wounded,  by  the 
cannon  and  bombs,  from  which,  during  this  day  and  at  night 
there  were  five  hundred  and  sixty-three  shot  and  shells  dis- 
charged.   The  Indians  ascended  the  trees  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  the  fort,  and  fired  into  it  with  their  rifles, 
only  one  man,  however,  was  killed  by  a  bullet.    On  the 
4th,  no  firing  took  place  until  1 1  o'clock.    It  was  at  first 
supposed  that  the  enemy  had  exhausted  himself,  but  at 
9  o'clock  it  was  discovered  that  he  was  erecting  an  addi- 
tional battery,  to  guard  against  which,  general  Harrison 
ordered  a  new  traverse  to  be  constructed.    A  heavy  rain, 
«sb4r.h  fell  in  the  eaplv  nart  of  the  day,  retarded  the  firing 
on  both  sides.    The'rifle  was  usedoftener  on  this,  than 
on  aoy.  other  da^    Tbe  eaonon  shot  did  not  exceed  two 


;f1 


general  Harrison 


M 

hundred  and  tfreniy-two.    Sereral  men  were   sligbUjr 
wounded,  and  two  killed  in  the  course  of  the  night.    The 
principal  part  of  the  British  were  at  the  old  batteries  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  riyer,  one  of  their  officers  of  rank 
crossed  over  within  musket  shot  of  the  fort,  and  was  shot 
by  lieutenant  Gwynne.    On  the  5(h,  the  fire  from  the  be- 
siegers was  very  slow,  they  killed  three  men  with  bomb  , 
and  discharged  their  pieces  one  hundred  and  forty-three 
times  in  all.    General  Clay  had  put  bis  troops  in  motion^ 
as  soon  as  he  received  general  Harrison's  orders  of  the 
38th  ultimo,  and  had  marched  with  great  expedition.    At 
2  o'clock  on  this  day,  M.  Oliver,  who  had  been  sent  with 
the  despatches,  arrived  at  the  fort,  with  forty-seven  men 
of  general  Clay's  brigade,  and  informed  general  Harrison^ 
that  the  vi^ole  detachment  was  within  a  few  hours  march. 
Orders  were  immediately  sent  to  general  Clay  to  land 
eight  hundred  ihen  on  the  opposite  shore,  to  storm  the 
enemy's  batteries,  spike  his  cannon,  and  destroy  his  car* 
riages,  whilst  a  sortie  would  be  circuitously  made  from 
the  fort,  for  the  purpose  of  attacking  his  new  works  at  the 
same  instant,  and  compelling  him  to  raise  the  siege.    Co- 
lonel Dudley  was  charged  with  the  execution  of  this  or- 
der, and  colonel  Miller  of  the  19th  U.  S.  infantry,  was  ta 
command  the  sortie.    Colonel  Dudley  landed  his  men 
from  the  boats  in  which  they  had  descended  the  river^ 
and  marched  them  resolutely  up  to  the  mouth  of  the 
British  cannon.    The  four  batteries  were  instantly  carrl- 
ed,  eleven  guns  spiked,  and  the  Britbh  regulars  and  Ca*^ 
nadian  militia  put  to  flight.      In  pursuance  of  general 
Harrison's  orders,  colonel  Dudley,  after  having  effected 
the  object  of  his  landing,  ought  to  have  crossed  the  river 
to  fort  Meigs,  but  his  men  were  so  much  elated  at  the 
success  of  their  first  battle,  that  they  were  desirous  of 
pursuing  and  capturing  the  retreating  enemy.    An  im-i 
mense  body  of  Indians  were  at  that  time  marching  to  the 
British  camp,  who  were  met  by  the  regulars  as  they  re- 
tired.   With  these  they  formed,  and  putting  the  Indiana 
in  ambush,  they  made  a  feint  to  draw  colonel  Dudley's 
men  into  the  woods,  in  which  they  too  well  succeeded. 
The  Indians  came  out  from  their  ambuscade,  and  lUtack- 
ed  the  brave  but  in^screet  Kentuckians.    A  severe  en- 
l^igement  Uiok  plae^  wliich  terminated  In  the  death  or 
i^aptuce  of  filfflOBt  the  whole  d«iftclijQ2fn^  mdwlHclivWa^ 


■^.:- 


'4    f'l 
(1 


m 


•I 
i 

itaMM 

! 

Hw^H 

ijtW 

followed  by  tbe  same  kind  of  massacre,  though  not  to  tim 
sattte  extent,  which  succeeded  the  surrender  at  Raishi. 
The  British  intercepted  the  retreat  of  colonel  Dudley  to 
the  river,  where  he  would  have  been  protected  by  the 
guns  of  fort  Meigs,  and  only  one  hundred  and  fifty  men, 
out  of  eight  hundred,  effected  their  escape.      Forty-five 
were  tomhawked,  and  colonel  Dudley,  their  gallant  lead- 
er, was  among  the  killed.    He  is  said  to  have  shot  one  of 
the  Indians  after  being  himself  mortally  wounded.    The 
remainder  of  general  Clay's  brigade  assailed  a  body  of 
Indians  m  the  wdod  near  the  fort,  and  would  have  been 
also  drawn  into  an  ambush,  had  not  general  Harrison  or- 
dered a  party  of  dragoons  to  sally  out,  and  protect  their  re- 
treat to  the  fort.    The  contemplated  sortie  was  intended 
to  have  been  simultaneous  with  the  attack  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  river;  but  the  impetuosity  of  colonel  Dudley's 
troops,  defeated  this  project,  and  colonel  Miller,  with  part 
of  the  19th  and  a  body  of  militia,  in  all  three  hundred  and 
fifty  men,  salU^  forth,  after  the  Indians  were  apprized  of 
the  attack  upon  the  old  batteries.    He  assaulted  the  whole 
line  of  their  works,  which  was  defended,  as  has  since  been 
ascertained,  by  two  hundred  regulars,  one  hundred  and 
fifty  militia,  and  four  or  five  hundred  Indians,  and  after 
several  brilliant  and  intrepid  charges,  succeeded  in  driving 
the  enemy  from  his  principal  batteries,  and  in  spiking  the 
cannon.  He  then  returned  to  the  fort  with  forty-two  prison- 
ers, among  whom  were  two  lieutenants.  The  first  charge 
was  ipade  on  the  Indians  and  Canadians,  by  the  battalion 
of  major  Alexander,  the  second  on  the  regulars  and  In- 
dians, by  colonel  Miller's  regulars,  the  officers  of  which 
were  captains  Croghan,  Langham,  Bradford,  Nearing,  and 
Keut.  Campbell,  and  a  company  of  Kentuckians,  command- 
ed by  capt.  Sabrie,  who  distinguished  himself  in  the  first 
affair  at  Frenchtown.  This  company  maintained  its  ground 
with  more  firmness  than  could  have  been  expected  from 
a  hasty  levy  of  nnlitia,  and  against  four  times  its  number. 
it  was  at  length,  however,  surrounded  by  Indians,  and 
would  have  been  entirely  cut  off,  had  not  lieutenant 
Gwynne,  of  the  19th,  charged  the  Indians  with  part  of  cap- 
tain EUiot's  company,  and  released  the  Kentuckians.    On 
the  etb,  hostilities  seemed  to  have  ceased  on  both  sides. 

rpha    -        •  -  - 

.9.  S5-«/ 


w^oz^scw  sciii  uu«Tu  u  iiijg  uy  major  nuKiii  lo  aiiena 

to  the  ctoiforts  of  the  Amrican  wounded  and  prisoneifs. 


■# 


107 

Which  returned  wilh  the  British  major  Chambers,  betweeii 
whom  and  the  gamson  some  arrangements  were  made 
about  sending  home  the  prisoners  by  Cleveland.  On  the 
7th,  there  was  a  continuation  of  bad  weather.  Plage  were 
passing  to  and  from  the  two  armies,  during  the  whole 
day,  and  arrangements  were  entered  into,  by  which  the 
American  mihtia  were  to  be  sent  to  Huroii,  to  return 
home  by  that  route  and  the  Indians  were  to  relinquish 
theiF  claim  to  the  pnsoners  taken  on  the  opposite  shore, 
and  to  receive  m  exchange  for  them,  a  number  of  Wyan- 
dotts,  who  had  been  captured  in  the  sallies  of  the  6th. 
During  the  8th,  the  exchange  and  intercourse  of  flags  con- 

J^^iw  .P'*'™''!'''**  ""^^^  ^y  "»«  B»«sh,  to  furnish 
general  Harnson  with  a  list  of  the  killed,  wounded  and 

STTr^lu^****^**  however  was  not  complied  with.  On 
me  9th,  the  eneniy  was  observed  to  be  abandoning  his 

Zf^!*«Vi!?''^I''^  '®''^''** «"°  ^"^^^  had  been  brought  up 
in  the  night  and  were  receiyfaig  the  cannon-on  bei^  di^. 
covered,  a  few  guns  from  fort  Meigs  obliged  themto  re- 
hnquish  their  design,  and  by  10  o'clock  the  siege  wL 
mzed  and  the  whole  of  the  enemy's  forces  were  on  theit 
retreat. 

Thus  termmated  a  siege  of  thirteen  days,  in  which  the 

^Illa ^Tr*"**^^"'  ^^^^'^^  ^'^*^^'^'  promised  the  Indian 
alUes,  that  the  American  garrison  should  be  reduced,  and 
Its  defenders  dehvered  over  to  them^  prisoners  of  W^ 
Eighteen  hundred  shells  and  cannon  balls  had  been  fii^d  . 
into  the  fort,  and  a  contmual  discharge  of  small  arms  had*^ 
fcZd^'i  "P^  r  ^,^«"can  losslas  onTe^K^ 
Wn  nt?  T.i?««/^-^d  and  eigbty.nine  wounded.  Seven^ 
\n7hn    L^   the  former  during  the  siege,  the  remainder 
n  the  sortie,  and  the  different  assaults  of  the  6th.    Of  tl^ 
n!«a  ^"^J^^ndf^d  and  twenty-four  were  wounded  in  the 

theVn^LZ^"'"'  ?"""S  **»«  '^^«^-  The  loss  of 
n Hiioi  !  *  ^®  '*5«"^*''^  ^as  one  hundred  and  fifty-six 
mil^  «nd"fKr?°1'^'  *****  ""^  ^^^  K«»t"«ky  and  Ohio 
Sfonfw  li'^*^^^  ™T*^"  volunteers,  one  hundred 
felT  "•  .^"*  Kentucky,  as  on  other  occasions,  suf- 
Imn„«r  T^^  severely,  her  loss  in  killed  and  wounded 
Sn!*"f  lu  f  ^«ntHwo.  The  daring  intrepidity  of  the 
citizens  of  that  state,  had  continuallv.  «„d  tJn  nfL  «.:"! 

mZ''«fhfir''"P^*T*^'  *^^  them  into  the  most  dan^ 
gerous  situations.     It  wae   to   this,  that  their  defeat 


/  i 


u  *, 


I  ■ 


''•k 


*  ii'      I) 


toii 


under  colonel  Dudley  was  to  be  attriEwted,  and  because 
of  this,  that  they  lost  in  that  affair  two  hundred  and  up- 
wards in  killed  and  missing.  But  it  was  to  this,  also,  that 
the  gratitude  of  the  whole  nation  wa»  due,  when,  regard- 
less of  the  blood,  which,  in  the  first  stage  of  the  war  she 
had  already  freely  and  profusely  shed,  her  citiaens  came 
forward  with  unabating  alacrity,  and  volunteered  their  ser- 
vices on  erery  hazardous  expedition. 

The  force  under  general  Proctor,  was  reported  by  de- 
serters to  be  five  hundred  and  fifty  regulars,  and  eight  hun- 
dred militia.    The  number  of  the  Indians,  was  greater  be- 
yond comparison  than  had  ever  been  brought  into  the  field 
before.    They  were  much  dissatisfied  at  the  failure  of  the 
repeated  attacks  upon  the  fort,  the  spoil  of  which  had 
been  promised  to  them—yet   they  several  times  du- 
ring the  sortie,  prevented  the  capture  of  the  whole  of 
ttieir  allies,  the  British  regulars.    In  one  of  the  assaults, 
commanded  Jqt  captain  Croghan,  upon  a  battery  which 
was  defended  by  the  grenadier  and  light  infantry  compar 
Dies  of  the  41  at  regiment,  the  enemy  suffered  severly, 
and,  but  for  the  immediate  assistance  of  the  Indians,  could 
not  have  effected  a  retreat,  which  the  vigour  of  the  assarilt 
compelled  them  to  make.     General  Harrison  caused  not 
only  the  ground  upon  which  the  enemy's  batteries  had 
been  erected  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  fort,  but  that 
on  which  colonel  Dudley's  battle  had  been  fought,  to  be 
strictly  examined;  on  the  latter,  the  body, of  that  unforta- 
laate  oflRcer  was  discovered  dreadfully  mangled.    The  bor 
dies  of  several  of  his  detachment  were  also  found,  and  the 
whole  were  collected  and  buried  with  the  honours  and 
solemnities  due  to  their  rank  and  the  occasion.     Offensive 
preparations  were  now  for  a  time  suspended.    The  naval 
equipments  on  lake  Erie,  were  in  active  forwardness, 
and  until  these  were  completed,  the  troops  were  to  remain 
at  fort  Meigs  and  Sandusky.    The  forces  at  either  were 
adequate  to  its  defence,  and  general  Harrison  left  gene- 
ral Clay  in  command  of  the  former.  Whilst  he  set  out  for 
the  latter,  and  thence  intended  to  repair  to  Franklinton 
to  forward  new  reinforcements.    In  the  month  of  June,  a 
general  council  of  Indian  chiefs  was  assembled  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Seneca  town,  Lowei  Sandusky,  to  which 
place  the  head  quarters  of  general  Harrison  had  been 
transferFed.    The  result  of  their  deliberatious  was  an  offfef 


100 

to  ake  up  atms  in  behalf  of  the  United  States,  and  they 
proposed  to  accompany  general  Harrison  into  Canada. 
But  the  incursiona  of  the  hostile  chiefs  were  now  more 
frequent  than  before.    Their  depredations  were  extended 
along  the  shores  of  the  lake,  and  maiiy  bf  the  inhabitants 
were  killed,  or  made  prisoners.    But  a  temporary  check 
was  given  to  their  inroads,  by  a  squadron  of  draaoons. 
who  encountered  and  cut  to  pieces  a  party  of  the  most 
ferocious  of  the  savages.    Colonel  Ball  was  descending 
the  Sandusky  with  twenty-two  men,  when  he  was  fired  up- 
on by  about  twenty  Indians  from  an  ambush.  He  charged 
upon  and  drov«  them  from  their  ambuscade,  and  after  an 
obstinate  contest  upon  a  plain,  favourable  to  the  opera- 
tions of  cavalry,  he  destroyed  every  chief  of  the  party. 
During  the  warmest  of  the  engagement,  he  was  dismount- 
ed, and  m  personal  fight  with  a  warrior  of  great  strength. 
Ihey  fought  with  desperation,  until  the  colonel  was  re- 
heved  by  an  ofiicer  who  shot  down  the  Indian.    The  sa 
vages  then  became  furious,  and  after  giving  their  custom- 
ary signal,  to  receive  no  quarter,  they  made  a  vigorous 
onset,  and  kept  up  tlie  contest  until  their  whole  band  was 
destroyed    TOs  aflfair  produced  some  terror  among  the 
Indians,  and  the  persons  and  property  of  the  inhabitants 
were  secured  for  a  wJiile  from  outrage  and  plunder. 

The  conduct^f  this  vigilant  and  able  officer,  has  been 
fr^iuently  spoken  of  in  general  orders.  At  the  repulse 
of  Uie  besiegers  of  fort  Meigs,  he  was  among  the  most 
conspicuous  01  those  officers,  who  vainly  strove  to  suroasaS 
each  other  m  the  acquital  of  their  duty.  To  majors  Bali:  1 
Tod(»  ^--^wick,  and  Fitzer,  and  major  Johnson  of  the 
JS^n.*!.  i,  the  commander  in  chief  gave  a  public 

expressiu.         nvaimeat  approbation.  Of  captain  Wood, 

•  u  f  *S  .'.  ■  ^^^  ^^^  ^^^^^  **>a*  ^e  so  nobly  distin- 
guished himiseif  m  a  sortie  from  another  garrison,  the  ge- 
neral said,  that  in  assigning  to  him  the  first  palm  of  merit, 
as  tar  as  it  related  to  the  transactions  within  th&  works, 
he  was  convinced  that  his  tlecision  would  be  awarded  by 
every  individual  in  camp,  who  witnessed  his  indefatigable 
exertion,  his  consummate  skill  in  providing  for  the  safety 
01  every  point,  and  in  foiling  every  attempt  of  the  enemy: 
and  his  undaunted  bravery  in  the  performance  of  his  duty 
in  the  most  exposed  situation.  In  sDeakii«>  nf  tb**  if-^^- 
iuciuans,  he  said,  that  it  rarely  happened  thatageuil-al 


110 


had  to  complain  of  the  excessive  ardour  of  his  mm,  yef, 
that  such  always  appeared  to  be  the  case  whenever  the 
Kentucky  militia  were  engaged,  and  that  they  appeared 
J^  to  think  that  valour  alone  could  accomplish  any  thing. 

The  general  was  led  to  make  this  remark,  from  the  con- 
duct of  captain  Dudley's  company,  of  one  of  the  militia 
regiments,  as  he  understood  that  that  gallant  officer  was 
obliged  to  turn  his  espontoon  against  hie  own  company,  to 
•oblige  them  to  desist  from  a  furthur  pursuit  of  the  enemy. 
This  declaration  refercd  to  the  conduct  of  this  cowpany 
in  the  sortie. 

On  the  BiTLth  or  seventh  day  of  the  siege,  general  Har- 
rison received  from  general  Proctor  a  summons  to  sur- 
render, which  was  delivered  in  the  usual  form,  by  major 
Chambers,  who  infonned  the  general,  that  Che  British 
commander  was  desirous  of  saving  tlie  effusion  of  blood. 
Oeneral  Harrison  expressed  great  astonishment  at  this 
demand.    As  general  Proctor  did  not  send  it  on  his  arri- 
val, he  supposed  that  the  British  officers  believed  he  was 
determined  to  do  his  duty.     Major  Chambers,  then  in 
vain  attempted  to  persuade  him  of  the  high  respect  which 
general  Proctor  entertained  for  him  as  a  soldier,  and  in- 
formed him  that  there  was  now  a  larger  body  of  Indians 
assembled,  than  had  ever  been  known  to  have  been  at  one 
time  organized.     General  Harrison  dismissed  him  with 
assurances  that  he  had  a  very  correct  idea  of  general  Proc- 
tor's force ;  that  it  was  not  such  as  to  create  the  least  ap- 
rehension  for  the  result  of  the  contest;   that  general 
Proctor  should  never  have  that  post  surrendered  to  him 
upon  any  terms ;  and,  that  if  it  should  fall  into  his  handset 
should  be  in  a  manner  calculated  to  do  him  more  honour, 
and  to  give  him  larger  claims  npon  the  gratitude  of  his 
government,  than  he  could  possibly  derive  from  any  ca- 
pitulation. 


P* . ,:'.  ^  ) 


H-J-: 


CHAPTER  IX. 


,*u,,uuur  oj  LAttU 

»/  tte  main  Zw-^^f '^ ,   ",'**  "wuh-Landing 
Their  m^k,  {ZJ^fXf  Z'T!'^  '"  ''«"'•  g'-rrisonl 

^•Marrf  annoyed  bv  /iei2/#»M/T.,/ip-i/#i^^"'~"^**  »'««'• 

W  Me  Erie— Capture  ^fn^v-''  ^^''^''"'ge— Fleet 
S-  George  Prl':ZHUr^C.  ^"^"^  '^'^^''^ 

fect,  a  mutaalSa^e  of  ^  •''  """"""'"rie^  to  that  ef- 
"Stored  .0  tLJZlul'vXr^!?^  "I"^'  '^''ich 
guished  officers,  wh6  had  fenF  •  !  .?  ''^''  »"  ""«  •««tin- 
,W  taring  the  campat^^TsiL  v'  ^"^  "'  ">«  «»«• 
H  !»the  meantime  r»„j.J±.  fe" "' P^«P«™tio„s 
ana  the  armv  of  thp  p*.nrnl  "r """*'  "•?  "^'^  "^niiern  army 

Li 


112 


.  'M 


cniiting  districtB,  and  the  necesBary  supplied  of  provisions 
and  military  equipments,  had  been  forwarded  with  the 
utmost  celerity,  and  every  thing  seemed  to  promise  a  suc- 
cesafui  issue  to  the  contemplated  operations. 

Captain  Fcrsytho  and  his  company,  consisting  now  of 
about  one  hundred  and  eighty-five  men,  were  still  station- 
ed at  Ogdensburg,  where  he  was  in  command.  Deserters, 
from  the  Canada  side  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  were  coutinu* 
ally  surrendering  themselves  to  him,  at  this  post,  until 
their  numbers  became,  at  length,  so  extensive,  that  the  vi- 
gilance of  the  enemy  was  strongly  excited.   British  guards 
were  repeatedly  sent  over  to  the  American  shore  in  search 
of  them,  and  though  they   succeeded  in  taking  about 
sixteen^  they  committed    so    many  aggressions    upon 
the   persons  and   propf rty  of  the  citizens,  that  captain 
Forsythe  determined  on  attacking  them  in  the  village  of 
EUzabethtown,  and  releasing  the  deserters  whom  they 
had  thus  taken  and  imprisoned  at  that  place.    On  the  6th 
of  February,  he  therefore  drafted  a  part  of  his  own  com- 
pany, and  accepted  the  services  of  a  sufficient  number  of 
volunteers,  to  make  his  command  amount  to  two  hundred 
men.     With  these,  accompanied  by  colonel  Benedict  and 
several  private  gentleman,  he  proceeded  up  the  river  t  > 
Morristown,  where  he  formed  his  men,  and  at  3  o'clock 
on  the  morning  of  the  seventh,  he  crossed  over  to  EUza- 
bethtown, surprised  the  guard,  ,took  fifty-two  prisoners, 
#among  whom  were  one  major,  three  captains,  and  two 
lieutenants,  and  captured  one  hundred  and  twenty  mus- 
kets, twenty  rifles,  two  casks  of  fixed  ammunition,  and 
some  other  public  property,  without  the  loss  of  a  single 
man.    He  then  released  the  deserters  from  jail,  re-crossed 
the  river,  and  returned  to  Ogdensburg,  where  he  negoci- 
ated  with  two  British  officers,  sent  over  for  that  purpose, 
for  the  parole  of  the  prisoners. 

Soon  after  this,  tlie  movements  of  the  enemy  at  Pres- 
cot  were  indicative  of  an  intention  to  attack  Ogdensburg. 
Colonel  Benedict  was  therefore  induced  to  call  out  his 
regimeni  of  militia,  and  arrangements  were  immediately 
made  for  the  defence  of  the  place.  On  the  21st  of  Fe- 
bruary the  enemy  appeared  before  it,  with  a  force 
of  twelve  hundred  men,  and  succeeded  in  driving  out 

Annfain  'R'ftrcirl'ho    AnrI    hia  frnnns.  T^hA  TlriHeh  flftnrked 

in  two  columns,  of  six  hundred  men  each,  at  8  o'clock  in 


113 

lni!^''S'r'^.'^K!"*'.  ^""^'"""^^eJ  by  cap<al„  McDonnell 
of  the  Glengary  light  uifantry,  and  colonel  Praser  of  ihe 
CanacHan  m.Utia.  The  American  riflemen  and  militia  e- 
ceived  them  vv.th  firmness,  and  contended  for  the  ground 

compelled  them  to  abandon  it,  and  to  retreat  to  Black 
liake,  nearly  nine  miles  from  OgdensburK  afi^  lol^n^ 
twenty  men  in  killed  and  woui^led  S  loss  of  he 
enemy,  from  the  deliberale  coolness  with  which  the  rifle 
men  fired,  was  reputed  to  have  been  thrice  that  number 
The  British  account,  which  claimed  the  capture  of  in^ 
mense  stores,  none  of  which  had  ever  been  deposited 
here,  adrrHted  the  loss  of  five  distinguisherofficeT— 
In  consequence  of  this  aff^air,  a  mes^ge  was  Vent^^lZ 
commandant  of  fort   George,   to  colonel  MTeel/    he 

I7^l'ft  ^J^''  ^^«S«^«'  ^"^«"»»"g  him  That  a^^ll^: 
would  be  fired  the  next  day  in  honour  of  the  cantuTe  of 
the  American  village.  Colonel  MTeely  havr„rreceTved 
mtelhgence  in  the  course  of  the  same  ev^ening  "Sf  the  c^^^^^ 

ure  of  h«  majesty's  frigate  the  Java,  returned  he  message 
to  the  British  commandant,  by  communicating  to™?mhU 
intention  of  firing  a  salute,  at  tl...  same  hour  from  fo^t 
Niagara,  m  celebration  of  this  brilliant  event. 

On  Uie  26th  March,  the  batteries  on  Black  Rock  weie 
opened  upon  the  enemy,  and  the  fire  continued  wS  mt  e 

ntermission  until  night.     The  sailors  battery  completely 

w  sTon  ^^'r;  ^^"^r '^'^  ^"^«^^'  but^hntTam^^ 
was  uone  to  his  troops,  has  not  been  ascertains.!      nil 

.nan  was  killed,  .„d  sWcral  hurt  by  acXt  "a Tit  Rodf 

Reiiiforcemeuts  were  now  every  day  arriviiL  »„,i  (i  1 

irom  thamplain,  and  Ihe  shores  of  the  St    Lanren<-„ 

Silr  '"-n  *"""?'?  ^""'y'^'''  eo-mand,  w,  re  :  : 
he  calait''Z  i^K"  "  ''"  <'<'»fi"o»tly  expected  that 
ine  campaign  would  be  commenced  bv  the  invasion  nf 
Canada,  ,n  or  before  the  following  mon*  of  May  Or*"' 
denartme"n.^?"  *»  commodore  Channcey.  by'^the  ^vy  ' 
S-         •  *°  '■*"'"'«  "»  ''oafd  the  squadron,  the  coin 

Snefo^*"*'"  ?***°™'  '""  ""y  fo^^  which  Te  might 
•lestine  to  proceed  against  the  nosta  on  ih.  ftri.i.i,  x./.  * 

«„".'"[«  ^  P'""  "'"'  ''«™  conceived  "aadorsanizeFbv 
generni  Dearborn,  by  which,  in  co-„pe,aUon  wS  fleef. 


.*i<- 


fft. 


;■■     I  ■ 


i'f 


**'    n 


c!^,i 


114 

he  was  to  storm  and  carry  the  works  ait  Little  York,  tfce 
capital  of  Upper  Canada,  and  to  proceed  thence  to  the  as- 
sault of  fort  George,  the  great' bulwark  of  that  country. 

The  capital  of  Upper  Canada  was  formerly  known  by 
the  name  of  Toronto,  and  is  situated  at  the  bottom  of  a 
harbour  of  the  same  name,  which  is  formed  by  a  long  and 
narrow  peninsula,  called  Gibraltar  Point,  on  the  extremity 
of  which,  stores  and  block  houses  are  constructed.  The 
garrison  stands  on  a  bank  of  the  main  land,  opposite  to  the 
point.  To  the  westward  of  the  garrison  formerly  stood 
the  old  French  fort  Toronto,  of  which  scarcely  any  ves- 
tiges remain,  and  adjoining  this  situation  is  a  deep  bay, 
which  receives  the  river  Humber.  The  town  of  York  is 
projected  to  extend  to  a  mile  and  a  half  in  length,  from  the 
mouth  of  the  harbour  along  its  banks.  But  many  years 
must  elapse  before  the  plan  is  completed.  Its  advance 
to  its  present  condition  has  been  effected  in  the  course  of 
fifteen.  The  government  house,  and  the  houses  for  the 
distinct  branches  of  tiie  legislature,  are  said  to  be  hand- 
some, and  the  view  from  the  latter  highly  diversified. 

Agreeably  to  a  previous  arrangement  with  the  commo- 
dore, general  Dearborn  and  his  suite,  with  a  force  of  se- 
venteen hundred  men,  embarked  on  the  22d  and  23d  of 
April,  but  the  prevalence  of  a  violent  storm  prevented  the 
sailing  of  the  squadron,  until  the  25th.  On  that  day  it  moved 
into  lake  Ontario,  and  having  a  favourable  wind,  arrived 
safely  at  7  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  the  27th,  about  one 
mile  to  the  westward  of  the  ruins  of  fort  Toronto,  and  two 
and  an  half  from  the  town  of  York.  The  execution  of 
that  part  of  the  plan  which  applied  immediately  to  the 
attack  upon  York,  was  confided  to  colonel  Pike,  of  the 
15th  regiment,  who  had  then  been  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
a  brigadier  general,  and  the  position  which  had  been  fixed 
upon  for  landing  the  troops,  was  the  scite  of  the  old  fort. 
The  approach  of  the  fleet  being  discovered  from  the  ene- 
my's garrison,  gen.  Sheaffe,  the  British  commandant,  has- 
tily collected  his  whole  force,  consisting  of  upwards  of  se- 
ven hundred  and  fifty  regulars  and  militia,  and  one  hundred 
Indians,  and  disposed  them  in  the  best  manner  to  resist 
the  landing  of  the  American  force.    A  body  of  British 

crp$nndiei'<^  wppo  nnrnde'l  QH  ^^6  RhnpA.   anrf   <hA  (il^ntttLrV 

G*      ""         -----  -  -      -  —      - 

feucibles,  a  corps  which  had  been  disciplined  with  uncora- 
moB  pains  since  the  commencement  of  the  war,  were  sta- 


115 

tioned  at  another  point.  Bodies  of  Indians  were  observed 

in  groups  in  different  directions,  in  and  about  the  woods 

beiow  the  scite  of  the  fort,  and  numbers  of  horsemen  were 

stationed  in  the  clear  ground  surrounding  it.  These  were 

seen  moving  into  the  town,  where  strong  field  works  had 

been  thrown  up  to  oppose  the  assailants.    The  Indiana 

were  taking  post  at  stations,  which  were  pointed  out  to' 

hem  by  the  British  officers  with  great  skill,  from  which 

they  could  annoy  the  Americana  at  the  point  which  th- 

water  and  the  weather  would  compel  them  to  land.   Thus 

posted,  they  were  to  act  as  tirrailleurs.     The  regular* 

were  discovered  to  be  moving  out  of  their  works  in  open 

columns  of  platoons,  and  marching  along  the  bank  in  that 

order  into  the  woods. 

At  8  o'clock  the  debarkation  commenced;  at  ten  ft  waa^ 
completed.  Maj.  Forsy the  and  his  riflemen  in  several  large 
batteaux    were  in  the  advance.     They  pulled  vigorous^ 
for  the  designated  ground  at  the  scite,  but  werl  forced 
by  a,  strong  easterly  wind  a  considerable  distance  above 
The  enemy  being  within  a  few  feet  of  the  water,  and  com- 
plete y  masked  by  the  thickness  of  a  copse,  commenced 
a  galling  fire  of  musquetry  and  rifle.     To  have  feillen  fur- 
ther from  the  clear  ground  at  which  he  was  first  ordered 
to  land,  would  have  subjected,  not  only  his  own  corps  ' 
but  the  whole  body  of  the  troops,  to  great  disadvantages  • 
and  by  landing  at  a  greater  distance  from  the  town,  the 
object  of  the  expedition  might  be  frustrated.    Major  For- 
flythe  therefore  determined  upon  making  that  part  of  the 
shore  on  which  the  enemy's  principal  strength  was  sta- 
tioned, and  desired  his  men  to  rest  a  moment  on  their 
oara,  untd  his  riflemen  should  return  the  shot.      Generat 
Pike  was  at  this  moment  hastening  the  debarkation  of  the 
infantry   when,  as  he  was  standing  on  the  ship's  deck,  he 

t^Zf  w  IT^.f^^^  ^^*'  ^»  ^^^^"^^^  «»*i  springing 
into  that  which  had  been  reserved  for  himself  and  his  stal 

he  called  to  them  to  jump  into  the  boat  with  him,  ordered 
major  King  of  the  16th  (the  same  who  had  distinguished! 
fc  //"/u'y'"^.  ^^^  ^"^™y'^  ^«"erias  opposltl  Black 
5°.  'L*_^^!*^^  J""*  instantly  wUh  three  companies  ef 
«jai  rugiHte.ii,  aim  pusiiedior  the  luanadian  shore.  Before 
he  reached  it,  Forsythe  had  landed  and  was  already  en! 
Saged  with  the  principal  part  of  the  British  and  fcdSam 

L.2. 


116 


force,  tinder  thejmmediate  command  of  general  Shcaflfe. 
He  conteHded  with  them  nearly  half  an  hour.     The  in- 
fantry under,  major  King,  the  light  artillery  under  major 
Euslis,  the  Tolufiteer  corps  commanded  by  col.  M'CIure, 
and  about  thirty  men,  who  had  been  selected  from  the 
16th  at  Plattsburg,  trained  to  the  rifle,  and  designed  to  act 
as  a  small  corps  of  observation,  under  lieutenant  Riddle, 
then  landed  in  rapid  succession,  and  formed  in  platoons. 
General  Pike  took  command  of  the  first,  and  ordering  the 
whole  body  to  prepare  for  a  charge,  led  them  on  to  the 
summit  of  the  bank,  from  which  the  British  grenadiers 
were  pouring  down  a  volley  of  musquetry  and  rifle  shot. 
The  advance  of  the  American  infantry  was  not  to  be  with- 
stood, and  the  grenadiers  yielded  their  position  and  re- 
tired in  disorder.     The  signal  of  victory  was  at  the  same 
instant  heard  from  Forsythe's  bugles,  apd  tlie  sound  had 
no  sooner  penetrated  the  ears  of  the  Indians,  thap  they 
gave  a  customary  yell  and  fled  in  every  direction.     The 
Glengary  corps  then  skirmished  with  Forsythe's,  whilst  a 
fresh  body  of  Grenadiers,  supposed  to  have  been  the  Sth 
or  King's  regiment,  made  a  formidable  charge  upon  (he 
American  column,  and  partially  compelled  it  to  retire. 
But  the  officers  instantly  rallied  the  troops,  who  returned 
to  the  ground,  and  impetuously  charged  upon,  and  routed 
the  grenadiers.    A  reinforcement  of  the  remainder  of  the 
16th  then  arrived,  with  captain  Steel's  platoon,  and  the 
standards  of  the  regiment,  and  the  Americans  remained 
undisputed  masters  of  the  ground.    A  fresh  front,  howev- 
er, was  presented  by  the  British  at  a  distance,  which  gave 
way  and  retired  to  the  garrison,  as  soon  as  the  American 
troops  were  again  formed,  by  major  King,  for  the  charge. 
The  whole  body  of  the  troops  being  now  landed^  orders 
were  given  by  general  Pike  to  form  ip  platoons,  and  to 
march  in  that  order  to  the  enemy's  works.    The  first  line 
was  composed  of  Forsythe's  riflemen,  with  front  and  flank 
guards;  the  regiments  of  the  first  brigade,  with  their  pieces; 
and  three  platoons  of  reserve,  under  the  orders  of  major 
Swan;  m^orEustis  and  his  train  of  s^rtillery  w?re  formed 
in  the  rear  of  this  reserve,  to  act  where  curcumstances 
might  require.    TJie  sejcond  Ime  was  compojBed  of  th© 

«>SB^  s^-g,s:u;;u£,  au  5iA  piS^UdllS,   iiqlii£6u   uy  Cuj.  ^f*l/lUre'8 

volunteers,  divided  equally  as  light  troops,  and  all  under 
«OBg«iaQd  of  colonel  Ripley,   "yhus  formed,  an  injunction 


117 

was  given  to  each  officer,  to  suffer  no  man  to  load;  when 
within  a^shoFt  distance  of  the  enemy,  an  entire  reliance 
would  be  placed  upon  the   bayonet;  and  the  column 
moved  on   with  as  much  velocity  as  the  streams  and  ra- 
vines which  intersected  the  road  along  the  lake,  would 
permit.    One  field  piece,  and  a  howitzer,  were  with  diffi- 
culty passed  over  one  of  these,  the  bridges  of  which  had 
been   destroyed,  and  placed    at  the  head  of  the    co- 
lumn,  in  charge  of  lieutenant  Fanning,  of  the  3d  artillerv 
As  he  column  immerged  from  the  woods,  and  came  im- 
mediately m  front  of  the  enemy's  first  battery,  two  or 
three  24  pounders  were  opened  «pon  it,  but  without  any 
kindofeflfect     The  column  moved  on,  and  the  enemy 
retreated  to  his  second  battery.     The  guns  of  the  first 
were  immediately  taken,  and  lieutenant  Riddle,  having  at 
this  mpment  come  up  with  his  corps,  to  deliver  the  prison- 
erg  which  he  had  made  in  the  woods,  was  ordered  to  pro. 
ceed  to  take  possession  of  the  second  bpttery,  about  one 
hundred  yards  ahead,  the  guns  of  which,  lieutenant  FraseT 
aid-de-camp  to  the  general,  reported  to  have  been  spiked 
by  the  enemy,  whom  he  discovered  retreating  to  %e 
garnson.    General  Pike  then  led  the  column  up  to  th^ 
second  battery,  where  he  halted  to  receive  the  caotured 
ammunition,  and  to  learn  the  strength  o7th'gS„ 
But  as  every  appearance  bdicated  the  evacuation  of  the 
barracks,  he  suspected  the  enemy  of  an  intention  to  draw 
h.m  withm  range  of  the  shot,  and  then  suddenly  to  shew 
w«T    Jk  l'^^*  ^^''®%  Lieutenant  Riddle  was  sent  fo^ 
ward  with  his  corps  of  observation,  to  discover  if  there 
were  any,  and  what  number  of  troops,  within  the  garrison! 
Ihe  barracks  were  three  hundred  yards  distant  from  the 
second  battery,  and  whUst  this  corps  was  engageSTn /e! 
connoitering,  general  PiK  ,  after  removing  a  wonnded/ri- 
a Ttln'""  2  dangeroup^situation,  had  seated  himself  up^ 

geanTSjh*"^*'^  h  ""Tl^  *?  examination  of  a  British  sep- 
geant,  who  had  been  taken  in  the  woods.  Riddle  having 
discovered  that  the  enemy  had  abandoned  the  Sn! 

^zi.1  wl*^''^*"™.'^***^^^  information,  ^hj^mt 
gawne,  which  was  situated  outside  tb-  barrack  yard,  blew- 
up,  with  a  tremendous  and  awful  exulosion  r>Lo^j  T-^ 
niqqie  aqd  his  par^,  without  injuring  one  of  his  «ei,^a,S 

«^«ty  (4  t}|$  coliwm.    Th^  scTerity  of  general  paS^ 


118 


wounds  disabled  him  from  further  service,  and  the  com- 
mand of  the  troops  devolved  upon  colonel  Pearce  of  the 
1 6th  regiment,  who  sent  a  demand  to  the  town  of  York 
for  an  immediate  surrender.  The  plan  of  the  contemplated 
operations  was  known  only  to  general  Pike,  and,  as  gene- 
ral Dearborn  had  not  yet  landed,  the  future  movements 
of  the  troops  would  depend  upon  the  will  of  their  new 
commander.     He  ordered   them   immediately  to  form 
the  column,  and  to  march  forward  and  occupy  the  bar- 
racks, which  major  Forsythe,  who  had  been  scouring  the 
adjoining  wood,  had  already  entered.    Meanwhile  the  Bri- 
tish regulars  were  retreating  across  the  Don,  and  destroy- 
ing the  bridges  in  their  rear.    After  the  explosion,  which 
killed  about  fifty  of  the  enemy  who  had  not  retired  in  time 
from  the  garrison,  lieutenant  Riddle  with  his  party,  then 
reinforced  by  thirty  regulars  under  lieut.  Horrell  of  the 
16th,  pursued  the  enemy's  route,  and  annoyed  his  retreat- 
ing guard  from  the  wood.      This  was  the  only  pursuit 
which  was  made.     Had  a  more  vigorous  push  followed 
the  abandonment  of  the  enemy's  garrison,  his  whole  re- 
gular force  must  have  been  captured,  and  the  accession 
of  military  stores  would  have  been  extensively  great. 
The  majority  of  the  officers  were  well  aware  of  this,  and 
as  it  was  known  that  the  stores  were  deposited  at  York, 
they  urged  the  necessity  of  the  immediate  approach  of 
the  whole  column,  to  prevent  their  removal.     Colone] 
Pearce  then  marched  towards  the  town,  which  was  dis- 
tant three-quarters  of  a  mile.      About  half  way  between 
York  and  die  garrison,  the  column  was  intercepted  by  se- 
veral officers  of  the  Canadian  mihtia,  who  had  come  out 
with  terms  of  capitulation.   Whilst  these  were  discussing, 
the  enemy  was  engaged  in  destroying  the  military  store 
house,  and  a  large  vessel  of  war  then  on  the  stocks, 
which  in  three  days  might  have  hem  launched,  and  added 
to  the  American  squadron  on  Ontario.      Forsythe,  who 
was  on  the  left  in  advance,  being  aware  of  this,  despatch- 
ed lieutenant  Riddle  to  inform  colonel  Pearce.     Colonel 
Ripley  was  at  the  same  time  urging  a  rapid  march,  and 
the  troops  again  proceeded.    Colonel  Pearce  enjoined  the 
observance  of  general  Pike's  orders,  that  the  property  of 
the  inhabitants  of  York  should  be  held  sacred,  and  thai 
any  soldier  who  should  so  far  neglect  the  honour  of  his 
j^ofession,  as  to  be  guilty  of  plundering,  should,  on  con- 


119 

viction  be  pu    shed  with  death.    At  4  o'clock  in  the  af- 
ternoon, the  Americans  were  in  possession  of  the  town, 
and  terms  of  capitulation  were  agreed  upon,  by  which, 
notwithstanding  the  severe  loss  which  the  army  and  the 
nation  had  sustained  by  the  death  of  the  general;  the  un- 
warrantable manner  in  which  that  loss  was  occasioned;  and 
the  subtlety  with  which  the  militia  colonels  offered  to  ca- 
pitulate at  a  distance  from  the  town,  so  that  the  column 
might  be  detained  until  general  Sheatfe  should  escape, 
and  the  destruction  of  the  public  property  be  completed, 
although  one  of  its  articles  stipulated  for  its  delivery  into 
the  hands  of  the  Americans;  the  militia  and  mhabitants  were 
freed  from  all  hardship,  and  not  only  their  persons  and  pro- 
perty, but  their  legislative  hall  and  other  public  buildings 
were  protected.  The  teririR  of  the  capitulation  were, "  that 
"  the  troops,  regulars  and  militia,  and  the  naval  olBGicers  anid 
"  seamen,  should  be  surrendered  prisoners  of  war.   That 
**  a\\  public  3tor^,  navaimd  military ^  should  be  immdiate- 
"  ly  gjven  up  to  the  commanding  officers  o/  ti»  array  awl 
"  nayy  of  the  United  States,  and  thai  all  private  property 
"  should  be  guaranteed  to  the  citizens  .o>  the  town  of  York. 
"  That  all  papers  belonging  to  the  civil  officers  should  he 
"  retained  by  them,  and  that  such  surgeon?  as  mi^t  b.e 
"  procured  to  attend  the  wounded  of  the  British  regulars 
"  and  Canadian  imilltjia,  should  not  be  considered  prisoners 
"  of  war."    Undejr  this  capitulation,  one  lieutenant  colo- 
nel, one  major,  thirteen  captains,  nine  lieutenants,  eleveji 
ensigns,  one  deputy  adjutant  general,  and  four  naval  offi- 
cers, and  two  hundred  and  fifty-one  non  commissioned 
officers  and  privates,  were  surrendered.    The  American 
infantry  were  then  ordered  to  return  to,  and  quarter  in 
the  barracks,  while  the  riflemen  were  stationed  in  the 
town. 

When  general  Pike's  wound  was  discovered  to  be  mor- 
tal, he  was  removed  from  the  field,  and  carried  to  the  ship- 
ping, with  his  wounded  aids.  As  they  conveyed  him  to 
the  water's  edge,  a  sudden  exclamation  was  heard  from  the 
troops,  which  informed  him  of  the  American,  having  sup- 
planted the  British  standard  in  the  garrison.  He  expres- 
sed his  satisfaction  by  a  feeble  sigh,  and  after  being  trans- 
fered  from  the  Pert  schooner  to  the  commodore's  ship,  he 
"mde  a  sign  for  the  British  flag,  which  had  then  been  brought 
to  him,  to  be  placed  under  his  head,  and  expired  without 


m 


130 

a  groan.  Thus  perished,  in  the  arms  of  victory,  by  the  un- 
generous stratagem  of  a  vanquished  foe,  a  soldier  of  tried 
valour  and  invincible  courage;— a  general  of  illustrious 
virtues  and  distinguished  talents. 

When  the  British  general  saw  the  American  column  ad- 
vancing from  the  woods,  he  hastily  drew  up  the  articles  of 
capitulation,  and  directed  them  to  be  delivered  to  a  colonel 
of  the  York  militia.  This  colonel  was  instructed  tonegociate 
the  terms,  after  the  regulars  shoi»'*1  hare  retreated.  General 
Sheaffe,  therefore,  considered  t  ''.on  to  be  as  much  mr- 

rendered,  as  if  the  articles  had  :       .  actually  agreed  upoti 
and  signed.  Yet  he  treacherously  ordered  a  train  to  be  laid, 
which  was  so  calculated,  that  the  explosion  of  the  maga- 
zine should  be  caused,  at  the  time  when  the  Americans 
would  arrive  at  the  barracks.  Had  not  general  Pike  halted 
the  troops  at  the  enemy's  second  battery,  the  British  plan 
would  have  attained  its  consummation,  and  the  destruction 
of  the  whole  column  would  have  been  the  natural  conse- 
quence.   The  train  had  been  skilfuUy  laid,  and  the  com- 
bustibles  arranged  in  a  manner  to  produce  the  most  dread- 
ful effect.    Five  hundred  barrels  of  powder,  sevepi  cart 
loads  of  stone,  and  an  immense  quantity  of  iron,  shells, 
and  shot,  were  contained  in  the  magazine.   The  calamity 
which  followed  the  explosion,caused  no  discomfiture  among 
the  troops.  A  number  of  their  officers  of  high  rank,  and  of 
equal  worth,  were  either  killed  or  wounded,  and  they  be- 
came actuated  by  a  desire  to  revenge  th»ir  fall.    «  Push 
on,  my  brave  fellows,  and  avenge  your  general,"  were  the 
last  words  of  their  expiring  comniiinder.     They  instantly 
gave  three  cheers,  formed  the  column     and  marched  on 
rapidly.    Had  they  been  led  directly  to  fork,  the  issue  of 
the  expedition  would  have  been  fruitful  with  advantages. 
As  it  was,  however,  the  enemy's  means  were  crippled,  his 
resources  cut  off,  and  the  military  stores  of  the  captors, 
extensively  multiplied.    Most  of  the  guns,  munitions  of 
war,  and  provisions,  necessary  to  carry  on  the  campaign 
by  the  enemy,  had  been  deposited  at  York,  and  notwith- 
standing the  firing  of  the  principal  store  bouse,  an  im- 
mense quantity  fell  mto   the  hands  of  the   Americans. 
The  baggage  and  private  papers  of  general  Sheaffe  were 
left  at  York,  In  the  precipitation  of  his  flight,  and  proved 
to  be  a  valuable  acquisition  to  the  American  ^^ommander. 
These  and  the  public  stores  were  the  only  articles  of  cap 


121 

m!®*  ?!L®  .conduct  of  the  troops  needed  no  restnint 
Though  their  indignati  3n  was  highly  excitedrby  le  d^ 
cumstance  of  a  scalp  having  been  found  suspended  near 
thespeaker's  chair  in  the  legislative  chamber,  neither  fhe 
ornaments  of  the  chamber,  the  building  itself,  nor  the  pub^ 
he  ibniiy,  were  molested.  A  large  quantity  of  flour  de 
posited  in  the  public  stores,  was^dislributed  long' the 
inhabitants,  on  condition  that  it  should  be  used  for  theiFown 
consumption;  and  those  whose  circumstances  were  im^o" 
verished,  were  supplied  with  many  other  articles  of  Uie 

shore     '  ^  "^''*'  '*^'''''  ""'  ^««*'*>y«^  "P0«  the 

Immediately  after  the  fall  of  general  Pike,  tlie  com- 
mander  in  chief  landed  with  his  stiff,  but  he  did  not  rea?h 
the  troops  until  they  had  entered  Y^rk.  He  ttiere  made 
arrangements  to  expedite  their  departure  for^e  other 
&ed.  ^^P«^««"'  «°d  they  were  soon  after  re  em- 

The  co-operation  of  the  squadron  was  of  the  greatest 
importance  m  the  attack  upon  the  enemy's  garrison  As 
soon  as  the  debarkation  was  completed,^ommodore 
Chauncey  directed  the  schooners  to  take  a  posSrnelr 
the  forts,  m  order  that  the  attack  of  the  army  and  navv 
might,  .f  possible,  be  simultaneous.  The  largTr  vesslfs 
ould  not  be  brought  up,  and  in  consequence  of  the  Xd 

ositfon^'SrhrL^^^^^  *«  their  inteTded 

position,  ihis  they  did,  under  a  very  heavy  fire  from  thp 

enemy's  batteries,  and  having  taken  thei7ste'ion  ^tSn 
SIX  hundred  yards  of  the  principal  fort,  opened  a  gTlHne 
fire  and  contributed  very  much  to  its  destruction.^  ffi 
wn..  fi"^*:^  *^^  '^"^^•^"'  ^»«  *'««  killed  and  eleven 

rrHal.MTh"^**'.!  *^'"'/  r^  midshipmen  Thomplon 
and  Hatfield,  the  latter  of  whom,  in  his  dying  moment" 

c%  t:hL':o:n^^^^^^^^  *^  '"^^^^  '-  had^formTlJ^ 

buHn*^.^  *''*'**"  ^^  '''f  ""^^^^  American  army  was  trifling: 
but  in  consequence  of  the  explosion,  it  was  much  greatl; 

S  »i     1  ?°^  *"iy-two  wounded  in  battle,  and  thirty- 
eight  were  killed  and  two  hundred  and  »wrn«»  J*«,^  .^....V- 
♦^a  by  the  explosion,   so  that  the  total  Americirioss 


.^ 


'''-^^■^K'v'Ht' '' 

^^^K^^^^mK^ 

H^ElKvi 

fl^nRftHE'-l 

mmBSmsWm^ 

l^H^B'^ 

n 

122 

amounted  to  320  men.    Among  those  who  fell  by  the 
explosion,  besides  general   Pike,  were   seven   captains, 
seven  subalterns,  one  aid  de  camp,  one  acting  aid,  ami 
otie  volunteer    aid.      The  enemy's  loss  in   killed    and 
wounded  amounted  to  -        -        -        -        200 

Militia  prisoners    -        -        -        -        -        -     600 

Regulars,  prisoners    -       -        -        •        -  60 


Total 


760 


His  wounded  were  left  in  the  houses  on  the  road  leading  to 
and  in  the  neighbourhood  of  York,  and  were  attended  to 
by  the  American  army  and  navy  surgeons.  The  prison- 
ers were  all  paroled,  and  the  troops  withdrawn  from 
Y  jtk  immediately  after  its  capture. 

The  officers  of  the  16th  greatly  distinguished  themselves 
throughout  the  day.  The  death  of  their  gallant  leader,  who 
bad  personally  oi^anized  that  regiment,  and  had  already 
Biiccessfully  led  detachments  of  it  to  the  field,  inspired 
them  with  a  more  determined  spirit  to  revenge  the  barbar- 
ous act  of  a  defeated  enemy,  than  could  be  felt  by  any 
dther  corps.  Animated  by  this  desire,  with  hearts  panting 
for  its  fulfilment,  they  anxiously  pressed  forward,  and  had 
they  been  permitted  to  pursue  the  retreating  column  of 
the  English,  under  the  distinguished  officer  (major  King) 
who  now  commanded  them,  general  Sheafife  and  his  regu- 
lars could  not  have  effected  their  escape.  Several  platoon 
officers  of  this  and  the  16th  regiment  were  killed.  Cap- 
tains Nicholson  and  Lyon  by  the  explosion — capt.  Hop- 
pock,  as  his  company  were  landing.  Lieut,  col.  Mitchell  of 
the  3d  regiment  of  artillery,  acted  as  a  volunteer  on  the  ex- 
pedition, and  by  his  indefatigable  exertions,  at  every  post 
of  dstfiger,  gave  strong  presages  of  that  gallantry,  by  which 
he  has  since  identified  himself  with  the  bravest  officers  of 
the  army.  Major  Eustis,  captains  Scott,  Young,  Walworth, 
and  M'Glassin,  and -Stephen  H.  Moore  of  the  Baltimore 
volunteers,  who  lost  a  leg  by  the  explosion,  and  lieuten- 
ants Panning  and  Riddle,  were  among  the  most  conspicu- 
ous officers  of  the  day.  The  latter  had  been  expre38ly 
.  Selected  by  general  Pike,  from  his  own  regiment,  to  com- 
iHand  the  corDS  of  observation,  and  was  alwavs  annolnted 
ISO  the  most  hazardous  enterprizes. 


123 

Lieutenant  Bio  mfield  of  the  15th,  and  nephew  to  brig, 
gen.  Bloomfield,  was  also  kiUcd.  The  army  sustained 
another  loss  in  the  death  of  this  brave  young  officer,— 
The  2l8t  regiment,  under  colonel  Ripley,  though  it  formed 
part  of  the  reserve,  and  did  not  participate  in  the  actional 
llie  place  of  landing,  was  in  a  state  of  strict  discipline,  and 
manoeuvred  with  great  skill. 

On  the  first  day  of  May  the  Canadian  territory  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  York,  was  entirely  evacuated.  The 
iioops  were  all  placed  in  the  vessels  to  which  they  had 
been  respectively  assigned,  and  a  small  schooner  was  des- 
patched to  Niagara  to  apprize  general  Morgan  Lewis,  then 
m  command  at  that  place,  of  the  result  of  the  expedition 
against  York,  and  of  the  intended  approach  of  the  troops 
toward  fort  Niagara. 

But  the  fleet,  which  consisted  of  about  seventeen  sail, 
(Ud  not  leave  the  harbour  of  York  until  the  8th,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  prevalence  of  contrary  winds.  Late  on  that 
day  they  arrived  at  Four  Mile  Creek,  which  empties  into 
the  lake  at  that  distance  below  fort  Niagara,  and  thence 
takes  its  name.   Here  the  troops  were  landed. 

On  the  9th,  two  schooners,  under  command  of  lieuten- 
ant Pettlgrew  of  the  navy,  were  ordered  to  proceed  to  the 
head  of  lake  Ontario,  with  one  hundre^l  regulars,  com- 
manded by  captain  Willoughby  Morgan,  of  the  12th  regi- 
ment, to  destroy  or  capture  the  public  stores,  which  were 
then  known  to  be  deposited  there.  On  their  arrival,  the 
enemy  s  guard,  of  about  80  men,  retired,  the  public  build- 
ings were  destroyed  by  the  detachment,  the  stores  brought 
away,  and  the  expedition  returned  on  the  11th  without 
loss. 

On  the  10th  commodore  Chauncey  sailed  with  the  re- 
mainder of  the  ileet,  to  convey  the  wounded  officers  and 
men  to  Sackett's  Harbour,  and  to  obtain  reinforcements 
there  for  the  army.  Between  the  time  of  his  arrival  at  the 
harbour  and  the  22d  of  May,  detachments  of  the  squadron 
sailed  on  different  days  for  Niagara,  with  such  reinforce- 
ments as  could  be  spared.  Having  directed  the  schooners 
imr  American  and  Pert,  commanded  by  lieutenants 
v^of  ir?u^  ^^  Adams,  to  remain  near  the  harbour,  and  to 

watch  the  enemy's  movements  from  Kinff«*nn    t«.^ 

inodore  sailed  on  the  22d  with  350  of  colonel  M'Comb's 

M 


124i 


regiment  of  artillery,  and  a  number  of  additional  guns,  and 
arrived  at  tlie  Niagara  on  Ums  26tli.     Arrangements  were 
immediately  made  between  commodore  Chauncey  and 
general  Dearborn,  for  an  attack  upon  fort  George  and  its 
dependencies.     On  the  26th  the  commodOTC  reconnoiter- 
ed  the  position  at  which  the  troops  were  to  be  landed,  and 
at  night  sounded  the  shore,  and  placed  buoys  at  stations 
for  the  small  vessels.    The  weather,  which  had  been  for 
several  days  extremely  boisterous,  now  moderated,  and 
it  was  agreed  that  a  conjoint  attack,  by  the  army  and  navy, 
should  be  made  on  the  following  morning.    A  sufficient 
quantity  of  boats,  to  land  the  troops  in  the  order  of  attack, 
had  been  by  this  time  provided,  and  a  considerable  num- 
ber, which  had  been  for  several  days  building  at  the  Five 
Mile  Meadows,  above  the  fort,  were  now  in  readiness  to 
be  launched  into  the  Niagara  river.     On  the  afternoon  of 
the  26th,  the  enemy,  having  observed  the  preparations  for 
launching  the  boats,  opened  a  sii:>all  battery,  which  had 
been  erected  immediately  opposite  ^,he  Meadows,  for  the 
purpose  of  annoying  tl)«i  workmen  and  of  destroying  the 
boats.    The  fire  from  this  battery  produced  a  premature 
cannonade  between  lorts  George  and  Niagara,  which  was 
followefl  by  a  bombardment  between  all  the  batteries  in 
the  nerghbourbor>d  of  the  two  forts.    The  battery  which 
stood  directly  opposite  fort  George  did  ^eat  injury  to  Uiat 
garrison,  and  its  guns  were  directed  with  such  precision 
that  *he  halyards  of  the  enemy's  flag  staff  were  shot  away. 
No   blockhouse,  or  wooden  building  of  any  description, 
m  or  near  that  fort,  escaped  injury ;  whilst  on  the  Ameri- 
can side,  not  the  most  Irifling  loss  was  sustained.    The 
boats,  in  the  meantime,  succeeded  in  passing  for*  George, 
and  proceeded  to  the  encampment  at  Four  Mile  creek. 
On  the  same  night  all  the  artillery,  and  as  many  troops  as 
could  possibly  be  accommodated,  were  put  on  board  the 
Madisout  the  Oneida,  and  the  Lady  of  the  Lake.    The  re- 
mainder weA   to  embark  in  the  boats,  and  to  follow  the 
ileet.  At  3  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  27th,  signal  was 
made  for  the  fleet  to  weigh  anchor.  In  com^equence  of  the 
calmness  of  the  weather,  the  schooners  were  obliged  to 
resort  to  sweeps  to  attain  their  positions ;  which  they  did 
in  the  following   order — Sailing  masters  Trant,  in  the 
Juliaf  and  Mix,  In  the  Groivier,  iook  tneif  siaiions  St  ""• 
mouth  of  the  river,  and  silenced  a  battery,  which,  from  its 


115 

situation,  commanded  the  shore  where  the  troops  were 
to  land,  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  below  the  town  of 
Newark.    Mr.  Steevens  in  the  Ontario,  took  a  position 
to  the  north  of  the  lighthouse,    near   which  this  bat- 
tery was  erected,and  so  close  to  the  shore  as  to  enfilade  the 
battery,   and  cross  the  fire  of  the  Jh  ia  and   Growler. 
Lieutenant  Brown  in  'he  Governor  Tompkins,  stationed 
himself  near  the  Two  Mile  Creek,  on  tht;  enemy's  si'le, 
where  a  battery  had  been   erected  of  one  heavy  gun. 
Lieutenant  Pettigrew  in  the  Conquest,  anchored  to  the 
south-east  of  the  same  battery,  opened  on  it  in  the  rear, 
and  crossed  the  fire  of  the  Governor  Tompkins.    Lieuten- 
ant MTherson  in  the  Hamilton,  lieutenant  Smith  in  the 
^sp,  and  sailing  master  Osgood  in  the  Scourge,  took  sta- 
tions near  the  above,  to  cover  the  landing  and  to  scour  the 
woods  and  the  plain.  This  disposition  was  skilfully  effect- 
ed, and  each  vessel  was  within  musket  shot  o{  the  shord. 
At  4  o'clock  generals  Dearborn  and  Lewis,  with  their 
suites,  went  on  board  the  Madison,  and  by  that  hour  the 
troops  wer(S  all  embarked.  The  whole  namber  amounted 
to  more  than  four  thousand.  The  batteries  were  now  play*  ig 
upon  each  other  from  the  opposite  sides  of  the  river,  and  ti»e 
troops  advanced  at  intervals  in  three  brigades.    The  ad- 
vance was  led  by  colonel  Scott.  It  was  composed  of  the 
artillery  acting  as  infantry;  of  Forsythe's  riflemen;  and  of 
detachments  from  infantry  regiments ;  and  landed  near 
the  fort,  which  had  been  silenced  by  the  Governor  Tomp- 
kins.    General  Boyd,  to  whom  the  late  general  Pike's 
brigade  had  been  assigned,  commanded  the  first  fine, 
which  was  flanked  by  colonel  M'Clure's  Baltimore  and 
Albany  volunteers.  This  brigade  struck  the  enemy's  shore 
immediately  after  the  advance  had  landed.     The  second 
bngade,  under  general  Winder,  followed  next,  and  then 
the  thud  under  general  Chandler.     While  the  troops  were 
crossmg  the  lake  in  this  oider,  the  wind  suddenly  sp.ung 
up  very  fresh  from  the  eastward,  and  caused  a  heavy  sea 
directly  on  the  shore;  the  boats  could  not  therefore  be  got 
on  to  land  the  troops  from  thr^  Madison  and  Oneida,  before 
me  hrst  and  second  brigades  had  advanced,  and  M'Comb's 
regiment,  and  the  marines  under  captain  Smith,  did  not 
reach  the  shore  until  the  debarkation  of  thesft  hriiradrs  h«rf 
''een  completed.  ~     "   '""^ 

When  the  advance,  which  consisted  of  about  five  hur/dred 
wen,  was  approaching  the  point  of  landing,  successive  vol- 


126 


leys  of  musquetry  were  poured  upon  it  by  twelve  hundreil 
regulars,  who  were  stationed  In  n  ravine.  A  brisk  exchange 
of  shot  was  kept  up  for  fifteen  minutes,  (he  advance,  never- 
theless, continuing  to  approach  the  enemy  without  faulter* 
jng.  Huch,  indeed,  was  the  eagerness  of  the  troops,  that  offi- 
cers and  nieu  jumped  into  the  lake  and  waded  to  the  shore. 
Captain  Hiudman  of  the  2d  artillery,  was  the  first  man 
upon  the  enemy's  territory.  The  troops  were  now  formed 
with  celerity,  and  led  to  the  charge.  They  drove  the 
enemy  from  their  stronghold,  and  dispersed  them  in  every 
direction;  some  of  their  forces  taking  to  the  wood  for 
shelter,  and  others  recreating  to  the  fort.  The  former 
were  vigorously  pursued  by  Forsythe's  riflemen,  and  the 
latter  by  the  advance  corps,  and  the  first  brigade.  Few 
shot  were  fired  from  the  fort,  the  panick  being  instantly 
communicated  to  the  garrison. — ^Fort  Niagara,  and  its  de- 
pendent batteries  were  still  throwing  in  their  shot,  and  fort 
George  having  become  untenable,  the  enemy  hastily  laid 
a  train  to  the  magazines,  abandoned  all  their  works,  and 
moved  off  with  the  utmost  precipitation  in  different  routes. 
Colonel  Scott  with  his  light  troops  continued  the  pursuit, 
until  he  was  recalled  by  an. order  from  general  Boyd.— 
Lieutenant  Riddle  had  been  sent  by  colonel  Scott  with 
his  detached  party,  to  annoy  the  rear  of  tiie  enemy,  but 
not  being  ordered  back,  at  the  time  when  the  light  troops 
were  recalled,  he  followed  his  route  to  Queenstown,  and 
took  up  several  of  his  straggling  parties.  The  dra- 
goons under  colonel  Burn,  crossed  the  Niagara  river  above 
fort  George,  at  tlie  moment  the  pursuit  was  stopped.— 
The  light  troops  now  took  possession  of  fort  George ;  co- 
lonel Scott,  and  captains  Hindman  and  Stockton,  with 
their  companies,  entering  first  and  extinguishing  the  fires, 
which  were  intended  to  explode  the  magazine  :  one  had, 
however,  already  been  blown  up.  General  Boyd  and 
colonel  Scott  mounted  the  parapet,  and  cut  away  the 
staff,  whilst  captain  Hindman  succeeded  in  taking  the 
flag  which  the  enemy  had  left  flying,  and  which  he  for- 
warded to  general  Dearborn.  The  American  ensign  was 
then  hoisted  in  tlie  town  and  fort,  and  all  the  troops  were 
called  in  and  quartered.  At  12  o'clock,  Newark,  and  all 
its  surrounding  batteries,  were  in  quiet  possession  of  the 


d>JHkAA^A  t<k^\.Aii    C4t.«J^J 


.-1    ----ij. 


^1 ^-1 


rair- 


.»U:^li    iha 


enemy  retreated,  that  very  few  of  his  troops  were  over- 
taken.   General  Dearborn's  forces  had  beeu  under  arms 


emen,  and  the 


127 

e1«ren  home,  and  were  too  much  exhausted  to  pursue  him 
with  as  much  rapuhty  as  he  moved  off. 

At  (he  tune  the  enemy  abandoned  his  works,  the  whid 
had  encreased  so  much  and  the  sea  had  become  so  violent 
toward  the  shores  that  the  situation  of  tkc  fleet  at  the 
stations  which  the  different  vessels  had  taken,  was  thouirht 
to  be  dangerous  in  the  extreme.  Commodore  Chauncey 
herefore  made  signal  for  the  whole  fleet  to  weigh  and 
0  proceed  into  the  river,  where  they  anchored  between 

tIulL"7^"  ""**  ^J"«"''"-  ^"^'^^K^^  *he  action  wa. 
fought  by  mfenor  numbers  on  the  American  side,  the  ad- 
vance  and  part  of  Boyd's  brigade  only  being  engaged,  the 
hr.ll/  ?^^l  "^.^^  excessive.-He  had  in  killed  one 
three  one  hundred  and  flfteen  regulars  were  taken  prison- 

h«^'/  rVr!''^^.'''^'*""^^^*''  all  of  whom  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  Araencans.  So  that  the  loss  of  the  enemy  in 
kiIled,wounded  and  prisoners,  of  his  regular  force,  amount- 
ed to  three  hundred  and  eighty  six.  The  militia  prison- 
ers  who  were  parolled  to  the  number  of  five  hundred 
and  seven,  being  ad<led  to  their  loss,  makes  a  total  of  ei<rht 
hundred  and  ninety  three.  The  American  army  ?ostthHy 

Arni°.?h  f^'  ""^'  ""r  *^""*^''*'^  «"*'  «^'^^«"  in  wounded 
t^Tl  ^^J'"^'  ^r'^  "°^  ^'^*^^'''  "^"tenant  Hobart  of 
the  light  artillery.    Among  the  latter  were  major  King  of 

I  jeth,  captain  Roach  of  the  23d  (who  had  been 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Queenstown  heights,  and  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  captain  for  his  ^od  condl^^i 

Sith tolrr  ?"T"P"  ^'  Foi.ytre^\rmen 
llie  British  49th  (Invincibles)  was  in  this  action,  and  co- 

prisonfr^'"' '''"  commanded  it,  was  wounded  and  taken 

bothlC^ilT/^K^'  '°"f^'*  ^^  ^^  soldiers  and  seamen, 
ihll  ^uuu  ^^^'•^^'•n  and  coinmodore  Chauncey  alleged 
that  all  behaved  too  well  to  snffer  the  election  oLny  one 

tnlhTtt""-   ,'^^-/-"»-^  however,  in  a's^ond 
hP  nffl.  ^'^^^  department,  stated  that  the  whole  of 

or  action,  which  evinced  a  determination  to  do  honour  to 

.,  ,.^.  ^ciiuuii  coya  ana  Colonel  Scott,  deservprf  nar* 
tetttar  menUon,  «na  thst  he,  the  coaTOmdwIn  chie?  w^ 

M2  ' 


li 

i 

ill 

1 

'  ,^:'™ 

«: 

■    * 

.r  I! 


128 

<n^atly  indebted  to  colonel  M.  Porter,  of  the  light  artille- 
ry •  to  major  Armkstead,  of  the  3d  regiment  of  artillery ; 
and  to  captain  Totten  of  the  engineers ;  for  their  skil- 
ful execution,  in  demolishing  the  enemies  forts  and  batte- 
ries. Lieutenant  commandant  Oliver  H.  Perry  had  joined 
the  squadron  on  the  night  of  the  26th,  volunteered  his 
services  in  the  contemplated  attack,  and  rendered  great 
assistance  in  arranging  and  superintending  the  debarkation 
of  the  troops.  On  board  the  squadron,  the  loss  was  one 
killed  and  two  wounded.  Commodore  Channcey  was 
indefatigable  in  his  co-operations  with  the  array,  in  all  its 
important  movements.  In  this  affair  many  of  the  advan- 
tages which  were  obtained,  were  to  be  attributed  to  his 
judicious  plan  of  silencing  the  enemy's  batteries.— Gene- 
ral Dearborn  had  been  confined  for  several  days  by  a  vio- 
lent indisposition,  but  he  refused  to  yield  the  command 
of  the  expedition,  and  issued  his  orders  regularly  from 

his  bed. 

Captain  P^rry  was  despatched  to  Black  Rock  the  day 
after  the  battle,  with  fifty  seamen  to  take  five  vessels  to 
lake  Erie  as  soon  as  possible,  and  to  prepare  the  whole 
squadron  for  the  service  by  the  1 6th  of  June.  Two  brigs 
had  been  launched  at  Erie,  and  two  or  three  small 
schooners,  had  been  purchased  into  the  service.  The 
squadron  was  daily  expected  to  be  in  readiness  to  pro- 
ceed to  Presqueisle,  to  co-operate  with  the  north-western 

On  the  28th,  general  Dearborn  having  received  infor- 
mation, that  the  enemy  had  made  a  stand  on  the  moun- 
tain, at  a  place  called  Beaver  Dam,  where  he  had  a  depo- 
sit of  provisions  and  stores ;  and  that  he  had  been  joined 
by  three  hundred  regulars  from  Kingston,  landed  from 
imall  vessels,  at  the  head  of  the  Lake,  immediately 
ordered  general  Lewis  to  march  to  that  place,  with  Chand- 
ler's and  Winder's  brigades,  the  light  artillery,  dragoons, 
and  riflemen,  to  cut  off  his  retreat.  Although  the  ene- 
my's troops  from  fort  Erie  and  Chippewa,  had  joined  his 
main  body  at  Beaver  Dam,  he  precipitately  broke  up  his 
encampment  on  the  approach  of  the  Americans,  and  fled 
along  the  mountains,  to  the  head  of  the  lake.     General 

iiCVViB'B  arijUy  iiiUWU  «*•«»""«  -""^  I ■!^r'^-.-'- -     - 

ent  posts  between  fort  George  and  fort  Erie,  the  latter  oi 
irbiek  wa&  «nt«ieA  by  Heuleiiaiil  colonel  Preston,  of  tiie 


129 


service.    The 


»f  fhp  iliffer- 


12th,  iu  the  evening  of  that  day ;  the  post  having  beea 
previously  abandoned,  and  the  magaiiines  blown  up  by  the 
enemy.  Two  days  before,  the  Queen  Charlotte,  and  three 
others,  of  the  enemy's  vessels,  came  down  to  that  fort, 
baton  hearing  of  the  capture  of  fort  George,  they  pro- 
ceeded up  the  lake  to  Maiden. 

The  enemy,  having  abandoned  all  his  positions  along 
the  Niagara,  general  Lewis  returned  with  his  division  to 
fort  George ;  but  as  it  was  rumoured,  that  general  Proc- 
tor intended  to  march  from  tlie  north-western  frontier,  ta 
join  general  Vincent,  who  had  already  marched  from  that 
place,  and  to  retrieve  the  misfortunes  of  the  British  arms, 
it  became  necessary  to  press  forward  with  a  force  com- 
petent to  prevent  the  union  of  the  British  generals,  or  at 
least  to  intercept  them,  in  their  contemplated  route.    Ge- 
neral Winder  was,  therefore,  despatched  on  the  first  day 
of  June,  with  his  own  brigade  and  one  regiment  of  gene- 
ral Chandler's.     He  was  followed  on  the  third,  by  the  re- 
mainder of  Chandler's  brigade,  the  dragoons  and  artillery, 
under  the  orders  of  that  general,  to  whom  the   chief 
command  was  assigned.    They  proceeded  to  the  Forty 
Mile  Creek,  where  they  gained  intelligence  of  general 
Vincent's  having  taken  a  stand  at  Burlington  Heights, 
near  Stoney  Creek,  being  about  forty-eight  miles  distant 
from  the  fort  George.     In  the  vicinity  of  Stoney  Creek, 
the  Americans  encamped ;  but  in  so  careless  a  manner, 
tliat  they  were  surprized  by  the  enemy  at  midnight,  and 
several  of  their  principal  officers  made  prisoners.     Gene- 
ral Vincent,  it  has  been  supposed,  became  possessed  of 
the  American  countersign — and  having  discovered  that 
the  weakest  part  of  the  camp  was  its  centre,  he  made  an 
attack  upon  it,  at  that  point,  at  two  o'clock  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  sixtli.    Profiting  by  the  example  of  the  Ameri- 
cans at  York,  he  ordered  that  no  musket  should  be  load- 
ed, lest  a  precipitate  fire  might  apprise  his  unsuspecting 
enemy  of  his  advance,  and  led  up  the  8th  or  King's  regi- 
ment, and  the  49th,  with  fixed  bayonets,  to  charge  upon 
the  sentinels.  The  American  advanced  guard,  under  com- 
mand of  capt.  Van  Vechton,were  first  alarmed  by  the  groan 
of  adyingsentinel,and  were  surpriaed  and  made  prisoners. 
Five  pieces  of  light  artillery,  near  the  front,  were  captured, 
and  turned  upon  the  encampment,  before  the  alarm  became 
general.   The  two  brigadiers,  Chandler  and  Winder,  wha 
had  but  ao  hour  before;  separated  from  a  council,  w^e  JXh 


i 

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i 

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fw 

mk'' 

w 

«Li 

kk 

■i 

'-pfiflBHl; 

1 

ISO 

Btantly  mounted,  and  the  men  formed  with  as  much  fact 
lity  as  the  extreme  darkness  of  the  morning  would  per- 
mit.   Cteneral  Chandler  took  post  in  the  rear  of  the  left 
flank  of  the  right  wing—general  Winder  commanded  the 
left  wing.     Such  was  the  momentary  confusion  which 
prevailed,  that  the  contending  parties  could  lui  dietin- 
guish  each  other.   When  the  five  pieces  of  artillery  were 
fired  into  the  encampment,  generals  Chandler  and  Winder 
both  rode  up  to  the  battery,  to  prevent  another  discharge, 
under  an  impression  that  the  American  troops  had  mis- 
taken the  enemy.    They  were  both  consequently  cap- 
tured.   Tlie  otlier  oflicers  were  iguorruit  of  the  loss  of 
their  generals,  and  each  chose  his  own  plan  of  resisting 
the  assailing  party.     The  advanced  corps,  the  fith,  25th, 
and  part  of  the  23d,  were  engaged ;  those  in  the  rear  did 
not  get  to  tlie  assistance  of  the  front. — The  16th,  which 
because  of  the  illness  of  its  colonel,  and  the  absence  of 
its  lieutenant  colonel,  and  other  field  officers,  was  com- 
manded b^  captain  Steele,  was  forming  on  its  standard*, 
when  the  cavalry,  under  colonel  Burn,  having  cut  their 
way  through  the  British  4Sth,  with  such  impetuosity,  that 
they  could  not  stop,  pierced  through  the  centre  of  that  re- 
giment.   The  confusion  increased.    The  differ'jnt  com- 
panies of  the  18th,  were  firing  on  each  other ;  the  artillery 
were  engaging  the  infantry  j  and  the  cavalry  the  artillery; 
each  corps  being  under  an  impression,  that  it  was  con- 
tending with  the  enemy.     This  state  of  things  conti- 
nued, until  captain  Towson  opened  his  artillery,  which, 
being  stationed  more  in  the  rear  than  any  of  the  other 
pieces,  he  brought  against  the  enemy  with  such  effect,  that 
the  confusion  and  disorder,  which  had  taken  place  in  the 
American  lines,  prevailed  also  within  the  British,     The 
companies  of  the  2d  artillery,  which  were  then  acting  as 
Kght  corps,  under  captains  Hiudman,  Nicholas,  Biddle, 
and  Archer,  kept  up  an  incessant  fire,  until  the  dawn  of 
the  day  enabled  the  troops  to  distinguish  each  other.  An 
attempt  was  then  made  to  form  the  line,  colonel  Burn 
now  commandiiig.     The  6th  regiment,  which  had  been 
annoying  the  enemy,  from  the  commencement  of  the  ac- 
tion until  day  break,  did  not  lose  one  man,  and  was  found 
at  that  time  formed  in  line,  and  sustained  on  its  left  flank 

~J    p»*j 5-  "i    •»--  ■a-wts,  uiiiivi  iiiuji;r  ^^riiisirOiiM.      'i'iie  nriiig 

from  the  encampment  became  brisk,  and  irresistible.  The 
enemy  gave  way,  rallied,  and  broke  again.  The  dragoons 


131 


charged  upon,  and  completely  routed  them.  They  fled  in 
every  direction,  and  their  commanding  officer  was  misS" 
ing  before  day.  His  horse  and  accoutrements  were  found 
upon  the  ground.  He  was  discovered  by  his  own  people^ 
in  the  course  of  the  same  day,  almost  famished,  at  a  die* 
tance  of  four  miles  from  the  scene  of  action. 

Several  desperate  efforts  had  been  made,  before  the 
enemy  fled,  to  take  the  artillery.  Lieutenant  Machesney 's 
gallantry  recovered  one  piece,  and  prevented  the  capture 
of  others.  Lieutenant  M'Donough,  of  the  2d  artillery, 
pursued  a  retreating  party,  and  recovered  another.  The 
good  conduct  of  these  brave  young  men,  as  well  as  that 
of  captains  Hindman,  Nicholas,  Archer,  Steele,  and  Leo- 
nard, of  the  light  artillery,  has  been  spoken  of  in  general 
orders,  in  terms  of  strong  commendation.  Colonel  Bum 
and  colonel  Milton,  gallantly  distinguished  themselves, 
and  were  said  to  have  saved  the  army.  The  American 
loss  in  this  affair,  was  sixteen  killed,  thirty-eight  wounded, 
and  two  brigadiers  general,  one  major,  three  captains,  and 
ninety-four  men  missing;  making  in  all  one  hundred 
and  fiity-four.  The  whole  of  the  missing  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy — whose  loss  was  excessively  severe^ 
but  particularly  in  officers.  One  hundred  prisoners,  most* 
ly  of  the  49th,  were  captured,  and  transported  to  fort- 
George.  Captain  Manners,  of  that  regiment,  was  taken 
in  his  bed,  by  lieutenant  Riddle,  who  from  a  principle  of 
humanity,  put  him  on  his  parole,  on  condition  of  his  not 
serving  the  enemy,  until  he  should  be  exchanged.  An 
engagement  which  that  officer  violated,  by  appearing  in 
arm?  against  the  American  troops,  immediately  after  the 
recovery  of  his  health. 

In  the  course  of  the  morning,  the  British  sent  a  flag  of 
truce,  to  obtain  permission  to  bury  their  dead,  and  to  re- 
move their  wounded — The  latter,  however,  had  been 
placed  in  the  neighbouring  houses,  under  the  care  of  the 
American  surgeons,  and  the  army  having  given  up  the 
pursuit  of  the  enemy,  had  fallen  back  to  Forty  Mile 
Creek,  being  about  ten  miles  in  the  rear  of  the  field  of 
battle.  Here  it  encamped,  on  a  plain  of  a  mile  in  width, 
ita  right  flank  on  the  fake,  its  left  on  a  creek,  skirting  the 
base  of  a  perpendicular  mountain,  and  was  joined  on  the 
same  evening,  by  a  detachment  of  the  6th  and  16th  regi- 
ments, and  a  park  of  artillery  under  colonel  James  Miller. 


■  ■  'A  ■'    ■ 


132 

On  the  7th,  generals  Lewis  and  ISoyd  arrived  at  tlie  en- 
campment, and  the  former  assumed  the  command. 

Intelligence  had  been  immediately  forwarded  by  gene- 
ral Vincent,  to  Sir  James  L.  Yeo,  then  commanding  the 
British  fleet  on  Lake  Ontario,  of  the  affair  at  Stoneji^Creek, 
and  of  the  portion  at  whirh  the  Americans  had  encamped. 
In  the  evening  of  the  7th,  the  fleet  appeared  within  sight 
of  the  encampment.  Jts  character  was  not  known,  how- 
ever ;  but  lest  an  attack  might  be  again  made  upon  the 
fermy  in  the  night,  the  troops  were  ordered  to  lay  on  their 
arms.  At  day  light,  on  the  8th,  the  enemy's  squadron 
were  stationed  abreast  of  the  encampment,  and  withia 
one  mile  of  the  shore.  A  large  schooner  was  warped  in, 
and  oper  d  her  fire  on  the  boats,  which  had  been  em- 
ployed 1  .ransport  the  American  baggage,  and  which  at 
that  time  lay  upon  the  beach.  Captains  Archer  and  Tow- 
son,  were  ordered  down,  with  four  pieces  of  artillery,  to 
resist  her  attempts  to  destroy  the  boats ;  and  captain  Tot- 
ten,  of  the  i^ngineers,  prepared  a  temporary  furnace,  for 
heating  shot,  and  had  it  in  operation  in  less  than  half  an 
hour.  The  fire  of  the  schooner  was  then  returned  with 
such  vivacity  and  effect,  that  she  was  very  soon  obliged 
to  retire.  At  this  moment,  a  party  of  Indians  showed 
themselves  upon  the  brow  of  the  mountain,  and  com- 
menced a  fire  on  the  camp.  General  Lewis  despatched 
a  party  from  the  13th  regiment,  under  colonel  Christie, 
to  dislodge  them,  but  that  service  was  performed  by  his 
adjutant,  lieutenant  Eldridg^},  who  seeing  the  necessity  of 
driving  off  the  Indians,  had  gallantly  gained  the  summit 
of  the  mountain,  with  a  few  volunteers,  without  orders, 
and  repulsed  the  enemy  before  colonel  Christie  could 
reach  that  point. — -Sir  James  then  demanded  the  surren- 
der of  the  army,  on  the  ground  of  its  having  a  fleet  in  its 
front,  a  body  of  savages  in  its  rear,  and  a  powerful  army 
of  British  regulars  on  its  flanks.  To  this  demand  it  was 
deemed  unnecessary  to  make  a  reply :  but  as  general 
Dearborn  had  sent  an  express  to  recall  the  troops  to  fort 
George,  upon  seeing  the  British  fleet  pass  that  post,  gene- 
ral Lewis  prepared  to  retire  in  obedience  to  this  order. 
The  camp  equipage  and  baggage  were  placed  in  the  boats, 
and  were  ordered  to  proceed  to  fort  George,  under  pro- 
tection of  colonel  Miller's  command,  which  was  compe- 
tent to  resist  any  attack  which  might  be  made— But  thty 


3,  without  orders, 


133 

put  from  the  shore  before  the  detachment  came  up :  and 
after  proceeding  about  five  miles,  were  dispersed  by  an 
armed  schooner  of  the  enemy.  Twelve  of  them  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  British  squadron,  and  the  remainder 
either  escaped,  or  ran  ashore,  and  were  deserted  by  the-r 
crews  At  ten  o'clock  the  encampment  was  broken  np, 
and  the  troops  took  up  their  march  for  fort  George  hav- 
ing the  enemy's  Indians  on  their  flank  until  they  aiived 
within  a  short  distance  of  the  garrison. 

The  British  fleet  continued  to  cruise  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  the  Niagara,  and  intercepted  the  supplies  for  the 
American  army.  Two  vessels,  having  each  a  valuable 
cargo  of  hospital  stores,  were  chased  into  Eighteen  Mile 
Creek,  and  after  making  a  short,  but  obstinate  resistance, 
were  earned  by  boarding,  and  the  stores  immediately 
U-ansferred  to  the  enemy's  vessels.  A  party  of  seventy- 
five  men  had  been  forwarded  by  general  Lewis,  to  repel 
the  enemy's  attack,  but  did  not  reach  the  place  in  time 
to  prevent  the  capture. 

The  oflicial  account  given  by  general  Vincent,  of  the 
aurpnze  of  the  encampment,  claims  a  decisive  and  bril- 

Sr^^rK^^  ''?\°^*^  ®"*^^»''  «°^  announces 
that  the  whole  body  of  the  American  troops  had  been  re- 
solutely driven  from  the  field;  but  the  same  general  was 
known  to  have  abandoned  the  command  of  the  enter- 
pnze,  as  soon  as  the  alarm  was  given  in  general  Chand- 
er  s  encampment,  and  to  have  consigned  its  execution  to 
lieutenant  cplonel  Harvey  and  majors  Ogilvie  and  Plen- 
der leath,  each  of  whom  acknowledged  a  numerous  loss 
of  heir  most  valuable  oflicers  and  men.  General  Vin- 
cent s  report  to  his  government,  could  not,  therefore, 
have  been  given  on  his  own  responsibility.  On  what- 
ever side  the  victory  may  have  been  gained,  however. 
g^eat  want  of  knowledge  in  military  movements,  had 
been  previously  betrayed  by  the  officers  who  sucieed- 
yJ^Ia  ^/'1'T''^  <^f  the  American  forces  at  Little 
e«r«l  ?  ^u^'T'  ^"  suffering  a  beaten  enemy  U> 

ZTstZ  *^\'^^  *^^'^  P*'""'-     ^*  *«  former,  Ge- 
neral  Sheaffe  and  his  regulars  effected  a  retreat,  thiiugk 

he  palpable  tardiness  of  the  victorious  army.     At  the 

lauer,  the  same  trooos  which  a*^aok«d  ♦Ho  o««o«. ^_* 

lsM^7vSff^^i!  "^^u   '"*  ""^""'^^y  pressedrthaTThey 
must  mevitably  have  been  captured,  had  not  the  Ught 


i  i 


troops  under  adjutant  general  Scott  and  colonel  Miller, 
been  called  in  from  the  pursuit.  The  result  of  these  er 
rors  was  fruitful  with  the  most  evil  consequences.  The 
Te-captare  of  all  the  important  posts  on  the  British  Nia- 
gara, which  had  been  taken  at  the  expense  of  so  mach 
blood)  and  the  destruction  of  the  garrisons  on  the  Ameri- 
tan  side  of  that  river,  ^vhich  happened  not  many  months 
after,  were  among  the  least  pernicious  of  a  long  train  of 
disasters.  A  developement  which  can  only  be  produced 
by  the  gradual  lapse  of  time,  may  enable  a  future  histo- 
Tiao  to  throw  the  censure  on  the  proper  objects.  No  dis- 
covery has  yet  been  made,  which  will  allow  the  present 
recorder  of  these  events  to  form  any  other  idea,  than  that 
which  is  founded  on  uncertainty  and  conjecture ;  which 
do  not  go  to  the  con^tution  of  such  an  authentic  his- 
tory of  the  war,  as  it  has  been  his  utmost  endeavour  to 
compile. 

Whilst  the  troops  were  preparing  to  embark  at  York, 
for  the  expedition  against  fort  George,  the  British  at  King- 
ston, having  gained  intelligence  of  their  absence  from 
Sackett's  Harbour,  of  the  batteries  at  that  place  having 
been  principally  dismantled,  and  of  the  smallness  of  f';e 
force  which  had  been  left  for  its  protection,  hastily  col- 
lected all  their  disposables,  and  embarked  on  board  their 
fleet,  under  the  command  of  Sir  George  Prevost.  The 
fleet  was  commanded  by  Sir  James  Yeo.  On  the  night 
of  the  27th  day  of  May,  five  hours  after  the  capture  of 
fort  George,  the  British  appeared  off  the  entrance  to  the 
harbour.  The  American  force  consisted  of  two  hundred 
invalids,  and  two  hundred  and  fifty  dragoons,  (hen  newly 
arrived,  from  a  long  and  fatiguing  march.  Two  small 
vessels,  under  lieutenant  Chauncey,  were  stationed  at  its 
mouth,  and  gave  instant  signals  of  alarm,  at  the  approach 
of  the  British  squadron.  Expresses  were  immediately 
forwarded  to  general  Brown,  then  at  his  seat,  eight  miles 
from  the  harbour,  and  he  immediately  repaired  thither, 
to  take  the  command". 

The  tour  of  duty  of  the  militia  of  his  brigade,  had  ex- 
pired many  weeks  before,  but  he  had  been  requested  by 
general  Dearborn,  to  take  command  of  the  Harbour,  at 
A^xr  t!?n-  when  the  enemy  should  annroach  it,  and  to  pro- 
vide for  its  defence.  Immediately  on  his  arrival,  dispo- 
Bitions  were  made  to  that  effect.    The  movements  of  the 


Lionel  Miller, 
t  of  these  er- 
lences.  The 
e  British  Nia- 
e  of  BO  mnch 
)n  the  Amerl- 
many  months 
long  train  of' 
be  produced 
I  future  histo- 
ects.  No  dis- 
w  the  present 
(lea,  thaJQ  that 
cture;  which 
authentic  his- 
endeavour  to 

bark  at  York, 
ritish  at  King- 
absence  from 
;  place  having 
allness  of  f';e 
n,  hastily  col- 
an  board  their 
'revost.  The 
On  the  night 
the  capture  of 
ntrance  to  the 
f  two  hundred 
IS,  (hen  newly 
Two  small 
tationed  at  its 
t;  the  approach 
;  immediately 
at,  eight  miles 
paired  thither, 

igade,  had  ex- 
i  requested  by 
le  Harbour,  at 
I  it,  and  to  pro- 
arrival,  dispo- 
rements  of  tli« 


"^Sfe 


* 


^^ 


I3» 

enemy  iiidicatcd  his  intention  to  land  on  the  neninB..l« 
cale,l  Horse  island.    General  Bro.v„  therefore  dTr^t^ 
ed  on  resisting  him  at  the  ivaler's  edge,  with  the  aZ^v 
volunteer.,  under  colonel  Mills,  and  s'uoh  militia  „feo"d 

K::pJt=trhfrr:e^^^^^^^^ 

«-.so  form  a  second  line,  with  the  r.gulars.     The  S 
lar  artillerists  were  stationed  in  fort  Tompkins,  andX 

clXV.    '^"^  **""'  "»^   '"""""'«''  •«   «-te„r„t 
On  the  asth,  the  Wolfe,  the  Roval  Geor»^e  the  P,l„„- 
Recent,  the  Earl  of  Moiia,  and  o„^  brig,   wo   cho™"™ 
ami  two  gun  boats,  with  thirty-three  flat  bottomed  boaS 

tr^ffi  "*"'",'"/  '"  ^"  '''^'"'  •»"»'ied  troops,  appeared 
u  the  othng,  at  five  miles  distance.  They  were  stSndine 
heir  course  tor  the  harbour,  when,  having  di  covered  f 

fr„„/;  "T"  '»»■•«<'«' "oming  round  Stoney  Point,  with 
troops  from  Oswego,  the  whole  of  their  boats  were  imm. 
dia  ely  despatched  to  c«t  them  otT.  They  suMeeZi  fn' 
takmg  twelve  of  them,  after  they  had  beTn  run  on  !hoI^ 
an.  abandoned  by  their  crews,  Who  amVed  a"  the  h^ 
hour  m  the  night.  The  remainder,  seven  in  number 
escaped  from  their  pursuers,  and  got  safely  in  Trfiri' 
t  sh  commanders,  being  then  under  an  impr;ss^o»  fha 

ZaXT'Tl"  '"'  ^"""'S  f™™  OswegSslood  *to 
them  ^"y- »'l,f  ^P^'^Oed  'heir  armed  boats  to  waXy 

Xwll-h'^tfusr^^^^^^^ 

St-fS^fthe™Soranfle"4^^^^^^^^ 
-gerness  to  engage  in  the  contest  ;ith  the  iSg'e"^ 

wilb'l?!!  "'""''  ""  "'"■<'''  "n'onel  Mill,  was  posted 

Iv  five  h,""  ""'T"'-   T'"'  ^"-^gth  at  that  poi„rwas'^ne^ 

egnlars  effl':,-  "'™  .?"'  ""'  "''«'«  f«'4  "eludingZ 
skill  and  If  ,h       ''"f*"™  had  been  conceived  with  creat 

'"in,  and  If  the  condnrt  nt  th„  ».:i:i:.  i..  j  .  h't'^ 

min  equal  ability.     Disposed  of  as  the  fortes 

N 


il 


11! 


■.  »  'I 


}*h 


iii^#'i* 


19ft 

••r#  in  the  event  of  general  Brown's  being  driven  from 
jrno  Ubn  at  Horse  island,  colonel  BackuB  was  to  ad- 
™ce  Cth  his  reserve  of  regulars,  and  meet  he  head  ol 
rhrenemVs  column,  whdst  the  general  would  rally  Iu9 
roms  and  fall  upon  the  British  flanks.     K  resistance  to 
Stock  of  he  enemy  should  still  fail,  lieutenant  Chauu- 
^ev  was  to  destroy  the  storeB  at  Navy  Point,  and  to  retire 
wUhrs  two  schooners,  and  the  prize  schooner  the  Duke 
Tf  rinLTs^er  which  had  been  a  few  weeks  before  cap- 
?L^  Zm  tl;  r„i^y ,  to  the  south  shore  of  the  bay,  and 
east  o?  fort  V^iu^^^^^^^^    In  this  fort  the  regulars  and  uu- 
Sia  were  to  shut  themselves  up,  and  make  a  v.gororB 
r  r!,«  thPir  onlv  remaining  report.     Every  thmg  bemg 

^"ord.^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

o  lay  upon  their  arms,  whilst  he  continued  P«rsona^.>  to 
reconnoitre  the  shores  oi  the  harbour,  dunng  the  whok 
ntht  of  tbe  28tb.     At  the  only  favourable  point  of  .an. 
^irw  paused  a  breast  work  to  be  thrown  up,  and  a 

ba^te^^  en  ^r^^^^^  erected.     Behind  this  most  of 

'^''j^t^Z:  ^MhTtath,  the  enemy  was  discovered 

TaiSoared  "e  shore,  under  cover  of  his  gun  boat, 
those  be^ng  the  heaviest  of  his  vessels,  whuh,  ir  con.  • 
luence  of  the  lighlness  of  the  winds,  could  be  In-ouglt 
r  The  tWops  with  which  the  boats  w.-e  filled,  we. 
c  mm?nderb^  Sir  George  ^^-o^  S  in  pe^.o^^^^  Com. 
rfnrP  Yeo  directed  the  movements  of  the  barges,  uenen, 
S'rjLstantly  issued  Ins  orders,  thaUhe  troops  shoulcU 

dosranrrese..e  their  fire  until  the  enemy  should  hav 
close,  am  ica    unirht  take  effect 

'SoXtZ  er  cui:^  ZTVL  was  so  des.ru* 

I  .  .hP  TnrAv's  advance  boats  were  .l.liged  to  make. 

elmause  Inl  numbers  of  their  officers  am  >«.. 


.afomed  to  Bub'^B 


137 

rather  lo  hicrcase  ( h,.ir  .,.„f  °  'll.'  '"'"''  "*'•<"•  »"ved 
rerenge  i(  "•"  ""f^^'O".  ">ai.  to  actuate  them  Itf 

«ul  (he  v.>rou  "fo^o„rr  .t  y  ?  fu  ""  *  ^'J"  °"'*''.  wH'- 
intercept  the  r  retreaS  fi„,n  "^  "'""''''  '"'^•«"«"  '» 
one  hundred  men  wh„  h,  /i  h     "^  ?."*  «<»npa»y,  of  about 

"alous  comlu™rof  ct  MNrn"?  'r?  '^  "'^"""^o  ""« 
Ihem  up,  and  ordered  them  .„^'     •"•'  ""P'' '"'  ""-""ght 
and  volunteers  X  h„dT.„.iI,'?  ","*  "'"'  "■«  '«S'''«'^ 
In  the  inte,T»l  which  h»d  I        ,'°  ''^^P  ""*'•■  K™""-!. 
effected  his  .lebarkaU*^  wfth    !«» '""'"''■.'•'■"'"^"'y  ''»" 
tag  up  his  whole  force  J'^^„  ^f.  a™!.'""'''''"''  "'•'"'- 
Ms  march  for  the  villaee    „„  .h!        ,  .'  ''«.<'<'n»ne'iced 
>»«(  br  a  small  partf^  infan.rV  umie   t:^^'"!"'  *!"  "'"^ 
•">!  a  few  .lisraounted  .Ira™onT'.,^H       "."J*"- ^spinwall, 
opposed  him  with  n'uch  Slv    T  '"Tl"^'"""' ''''» 
fnged  up  (he  shore   and  ,nvi/'i  .V""  "^  ""c  gun  boats 
This  handful  of  troois  (1^^!.  I    , ''"  "'"  '^"h  K™Pe. 
<ier,  from  an  imtTnee  s  neri!™,''"^J^  '"'''""^  '"•  Sood  or- 
Pi«..  lae  i-tervairbXeTtL"  tmcks '"'•^'■^' '"'"  -- 

winch  then  followed  fhl.M  .    "  "^  '''gorous  fisht 

Salhntry  as  (heTave3^'„7,rPr, ''«'•''?„<'  '^"h  as  much 
™»  compelled  to  fall  back  ^f  '''''■  ^^he  whole  force 
»'«ng(h  of  the  enenv's  coh^m^.  T*''  ''^  "'<'  ^"P""'" 
•^ks  for  what  9hel™rthey  cZS'»<?..rfK'""S  '»  "'«  "»'- 
"elves  in  (he  unpnKec  ed  lot  ?  "*'  ""^y  P"*'*"  <hem. 
«»sant  and  effe    ivefire"     IromTf'  ""'i  "^P'  "P  «»  »- 

rh!t;etli''r~  ""^^^^^^^^^^^ 


,1 


N' 


i 

^; 

Vm,- 

Waf^ 

^I^I^Ihv 

J^  ,1  ^ 

l#^  ' 

Ktti 

%Pu 

flB&T' 

MjM 

nn^i 

^^.'  ^ 

1.18 

eed  to  Ihe  weakest  part  of  the  I)urrack««,  at  the  head  of  a 
cokirnn  of  reguUirs,  and  after  fjxchanpjiiiu;  shots  with  an 
inferior  piuty  of  iiiiiitiu  and  rej^idars,  led  his  irten  on  to  the 
assault.  A  suiall  boy,  who  was  a  <huininer  in  major  As- 
pinwall's  corps,  seized  a  musket,  and  levellinp;  it  at  the 
colonel,  imuieiliately  brought  hitn  to  the  gronntl.  At  that 
moment  lieutenant  Fanninfj;,  of  the  artillery,  who  had  been 
so  severely  wounded  by  the  explosion  at  Little  York,  and 
was  yet  considered  to  be  imable  to  do  any  kind  of  duly, 
leaned  u|>on  his  piece  whilst  it  was  drawn  up,  and  having 
given  it  the  proper  elevation,  discharj^ed  three  rouu''.^  of 
grape  into  the  faces  of  the  enemy,  who  immediately  fell 
back  in  disorder.  At  this  instant,  lieutenant  colonel  Bac- 
kus fell,  severely  wounded. 

Whilst  tJie  battle  was  raging  with  its  greatest  violence, 
information  was  brought  to  lieutenant  Chauncey,  of  the 
intention  of  the  American  forces  to  surrender.  He  there- 
fore, in  conformity  ft  his  previous  orders,  relating  to  such 
an  event,  fired  tiie  navy  barracks,  and  destroyed  all  the 
property  and  public  stores,  which  had  previously  belong- 
ed to  the  harbour,  as  well  as  the  provisions  and  equip- 
ments which  had  been  brought  from  York.  The  destruc- 
tion of  these  buildings,  and  the  conflagration  which  wa*j 
tbence  produced,  was  thought  to  have  been  caused  by  the 
troops  of  the  enemy,  and  although  the  undiscliJlined  mi- 
litia and  volunteers,  and  the  invalid  regulars,  were  suspi- 
cious of  being  placed  between  the  fire  of  two  divisions  of 
the  enemy,  they  continued  to  fight  on,  regardless  of  their 
inferiority,  or  the  consequences  of  their  capture. 

General  Brown  was  all  this  time  actively  superintend- 
ing the  operations  of  his  little  army.  He  now  determined 
on  making  a  diversion  in  its  favour,  which,  if  it  should  be 
successful,  would  be  the  only  means  of  saving  the  place, 
or  of  relieving  his  exhausted  troops.  Having  learned  that 
the  militia,  who  had  fled  from  their  stations  in  the  early 
part  of  the  engagement,  had  not  yet  entirely  dispersed ; 
and  that  they  were  still  within  a  short  distance  of  the 
scene  of  action,  he  hastened  to  exhort  them  to  imitate  the 
conduct  of  their  brave  brethren  in  arms.  He  reproached 
them  with  shameful  timidity,  and  ordered  them  instantly 
to  form  and  follow  him,  aid  threatened  with  instant  death, 

ii         <?.._A 1- _    _1 ,1.1    __A. X3ln    /-k»<1.>.<   iirnc    ohpVPfl 


uie  ursi  man  wnu  siiuuiu  rciunc 


iiJ3-  tJlt.l\ 


"With  alacrity.    He  then  attempted  a  stratagem,  by  which 


139 

tu  deceire  the  enemy,  with  regard  to  the  forces  against 
which  he  wus  contending.  Silently  passing  through  a  dis- 
tant wood,  whicli  led  toward  the  place  at  which  the  ene- 
my had  landed,  general  Brown  persuaded  the  British  ge- 
neral of  his  intention  to  gain  the  rear  of  his  forces,  to  take 
possession  of  the  boats,  and  effectually  to  cut  oflF  their  re- 
treat. 

This  was  done  with  such  effect,  at  the  moment  when 
the  fire. of  lieutenent  Fanning's  piece  had  caused  the  de- 
struction in  the  British  line,  that  general  Sir  George  Pre- 
vost  was  well  convinced  of  the  vast  superiority  of  the 
American  force  to  his  own.  He  gave  up  all  thoughts 
of  the  capture  of  the  place,  and  hurrying  to  his  boats, 
put  off  immediately  to  the  British  squadron.  He  was  not 
pursued,  because,  if  the  real  number  of  the  American 
troops  had  been  exposed  to  his  view,  he  would  have  re- 
turned to  the  contest,  might  easily  have  outflanked,  and 
in  all  human  probability,  would  still  have  captured  the 
army,  and  the  village. 

But  the  precipitatiop  of  his  flight  was  such,  that  he  left 
not  only  the  wounded  bodies  of  his  ordinary  men,  upon 
the  field,  but  those  of  the  dead  and  wounded  of  the  most 
distinguished  of  his  officers.     Among  these  were  quarter 
master  general  Gray,  majors  Moodie  and  Evans,  and  three 
captains.     The  return  of  his  loss,  as  accurately  as  it  has 
been  ascertained,  amounted  to  three  field  officers,  one 
captain,  and  twenty-five  rank  and  file,  found  dead  on  the 
field ;  two  captains  and  twenty  rank  and  file  found  wound- 
ed ;  and  two  captains,  one  ensign,  and  thirty-two  rank  and 
file  made  prisoners.  In  addition  to  which,  many  were  killed 
in  the  boats,  and  numbers  had  been  carried  away  previous- 
ly to  the  retreat.  The  loss  of  the  Americans  was  greater  in 
proportion,  as  the  number  of  their  men  engaged  were  less. 
One  colonel  of  volunteers,  twenty  regulars,  privates,  and 
«ne  volunteer  private,  were  killed ;   one  lieutenant  colo- 
nel, three  lieutenants,  and  one  ensign  of  the  regulars,  and 
leventy-nine  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates,  were 
wounded;  and  twenty-six  non-commissioned  officers  and 
privates  were  missmg.  Their  aggregate  loss  was  one  hun- 
dred and  ten  regulars,  twenty-one  volunteers,  and  twenty- 
nve  nuhtia;  making  a  total  of  one   hundred  and  fifty- 
-     -„  „„^   j-cTcic^,  ucuuuse  ui  me  worm,  more  Uian 
01  tbe  number  of  those  who  fell    The  injury  m  puMic 


rj 


m 


1^1 


•  El 


HO 

stores,  sustained  at  Sackett's  Harbour,  tliougli  not  hy 
any  act  of  the  invading  enemy,  was  extensive;  but  the 
gallantry  of  several  individuals  prevented  its  being  more 
80.  Lieutenant  Chauncey  was  no  sooner  apprized  of 
the  error  of  the  report  which  had  been  brought  to  him, 
than  he  made  every  exertion  to  save  as  much  of  the 
public  property  as  it  was  possible  to  rescue  from  the  in- 
creasing conflagration,  and  t<)  tliat  effect,  he  ran  the  Fair 
American  and  the  Pert  up  the  river.  The  new, frigate, 
the  General  Pike,  which  was  then  on  the  stocks,  was  sa- 
ved ;  and  lieutenant  Talman,  of  the  army,  at  the  immi- 
nent risk  of  his  life,  boarded  the  prize  schooner  the  Duke 
of  Gloucester,  which  was  then  on  fire,  with  a  considera- 
ble quantity  of  powder  in  her  hold,  extinguished  the  fire, 
and  brought  her  from  under  the  flames  of  the  store  houses. 

Notwithstanding  this  signal  repulse,  the  British  com- 
manding officers  attempted  to  play  ofi*  the  stratagem, 
which  Sir  James  Yeo  afterwards  adopted  at  the  Forty 
Mile  Creek.  They  sent  in  a  flag  with  a  peremptory  de- 
mand for  the  formal  surrender  of  the  post,  which  was  as 
peremptorily  refused.  After  a  forced  march  of  forty  miles 
in  one  day,  lieut.  colonel  'J'uttle  had  arrived  with  his  com- 
mand of  about  six  hundred  men,  just  as  the  BriMsh  were 
retreating  to  their  boats,  and  was  therefore  too  late  to  par- 
ticipate in  the  action.  Other  reinforcements  were  conti- 
nually expected,  and  the  harbour  would  be  in  a  situation 
to  make  a  more  vigorous,  though  not,  perhaps,  a  more 
brilliant  defence.  The  return  of  the  enemy,  even  under 
the  advantages  of  more  favourable  winds,  was,  therefore, 
not  looked  for  with  any  apprehension.  A  second  flag 
was  received  by  general  Brown,  accompanied  by  a  re- 
quest, that  the  killed  and  wounded  of  the  British,  nii!j;lit 
be  treated  with  respect.  In  answer  to  which,  the  most 
satisfactory  assurances  of  compliance  were  given. 

After  being  compelled  to  relinquish  the  further  prose- 
cution of  an  expedition,  having  for  its  primary  object  the 
capture  and  destruction  of  a  post,  the  permanent  posses- 
sion of  which  only,  could  give  to  the  Americans  any  hope 
©f  a  superiority  on  the  Lake  Ontario ;  after  having  suc- 
ceeded in  his  enterprize,  in  a  degree  which  scarcely  de- 
serves to  be  termed  partial ;  and  after  being  obliged,  by 
wic  prcuoruiiiunce  oi  his  appreheusiou,  over  ins  bravery 
and  foresight,  to  retire  from  the  assault,  and  precipitately  to 


5    «■      I* 


Ii,  the  most 


HI 

leave  his  dead  and  wounded  to  the  mercy  of  his  enemv  • 
gen.  Sir  G.  Prevost  issued  an  official  account  o  the  nc^' 
pie  of  Canada,  ai.d  forwarded  despatches  to  his  Jovern 
ment  m  each  of  which  he  laid  claim  to  a  brilliant  f nd  u  - 
paralleed  victory ;  and  alleged,  that  he  had  reluctant  v 
ordered  Ins  troops  to  leave  a  beaten  enemy,  whom  he  had 
(In ven  before  h,m  for  three  hours,  because  the  co  opera 
hon  of  the  fleet  and  army  could  not  be  elfected.~Ge  eral 
Brown's  stratagem  had  so  far  succeeded  in  dece  S 
h,  n,  that  he  reported  the  woods  to  have  been  fiHed  yiU? 
inlanry  and  field  pieces,  from  which  an  incessant  heivy 
and  destructive  fire  had  been  kept  up,  by  a  numerous  and 
ahnost  invisible  foe,  more  than  quad;up!e  nTumbers"o 
the  detachments  which  ha<l  been  taken  f.oin  the  gar  i'on 
of  Kiugs ton  •  and  that  his  loss  was  nevertheless,  ferv  far 
inferior  to  that  of  his  antagonist.     Private  letf  rs   how 
ever,  vvhich  were,  about  the  same  time,  written  from  offi- 
cers of  these  detachments,  after  relating  thatcoIonTorw 
and  two  other  officers  had  been  killed,  and  t latins 
Evans,  Drummond,  and  Bloodie,  and  sevx-ral  capta  ns Tnd 
ubalterns  had  been  wounded,  admitted  that  their  toTal 
loss  arnounted  to  upwards  of  o^e  hundred  and  lifty 

Had  the  result  of  the  expedition  against  Sackett's  Har 
hour,  assimilated  itself  to  that  character  of  u^^  allele 
bnlhancy,  which  wouhl  have  entUled  it  to  the  ei  c^^„  urns 
0   Its  commant  e,^  and  to  the  warmest  admiration  of  t"e 
tintish  nation,  its  effects  would  have  been  long  and  deulo^ 

tt'of^^'  '^  *''i  ^^^.!"^^"  government.  ImmLse  culu- 
ties  of  naval  and  military  stores,  which  had  been  from  time 
to  time  CO  lected  at  that  depot;  the  frames  and  t  mbers 
which  had  been  prepared  for  the  construction  of  vesse  s 
of  war  and  he  rigging  and  armaments  which  had  been 
orvvarded  thither  for  their  final  equipment,  a  well  as  aS 
he  army  clothing,  camp  equipage^  irovision  ,  amm  mt 
hon  and  implements  of  war,  which  had  been  previously 

fhen  on  L  7\^«fi''»c<^0"  ?f  the  batteries,  the  ship 
n„w-  ^  ^^''''^^'  ^^^  extensive  cantonments,  and  the 
public  arsenal,  would  have  retarded  the  building  of  m- 
other  naval  force,  and  that  which  was  already^on  the 
lake  in  separate  detarhmptif«  n«..w  i,«.,^  i, L.  . 

ed  in  det«n  rE  '^  ••f^"''"'  ^"^  '"'S'^t  have  been  captur- 
ea  w  detaU.    The  prize  vessel  which  was  then  laying  in 


R'-i 


jv 


1  -t 


142 

the  harbour,  and  which  had  been  taken  by  the  Americans, 
and  the  two  United  States'  schooners,  wouhl  have  been 
certainly  re-captured,  and  the  whole  energies  of  the  Ame- 
rican government,  added  to  their  tuoat  vigorous  and  un- 
wearied struggles)  might  never  again  have  attainc'd  any 
prospect  of  an  ascendency  on  the  lake.  As  it  proved, 
however,  all  these  impending  evils  were  repelled,  and  the 
wisdom  of  the  commanding  officer,  and  the  invincible 
firmness  of  those  of  his  troops,  who  withstood  the  brunt 
of  the  action,  converted  that  event  into  a  splendid  vic- 
tory, which  would  otherwise  have  been  an  irretrievable 
disaster. 


M 


^■-Ht 


CHAPTER  X. 

Generai  Dearbarn  retires  from  the  command  of  the  North- 
ern army— Command  of  fort  George  devolves  on  Gene- 
ral Hoyd-^Capture  of  the  Lady  Murray— Destruction 
of  Sodus— Attempt  to  land  at  Oswego— Affair  at  Bea^ 
ver  Dams— Escape  of  the  militia  prisoners  from  the 
head  of  the  Ijxke— Massacre  of  lieutenant  Eldridge— 
Affair  between  the  British  Indians  and  young  Corn- 
planter— British  again  attack  Black  Rock— Capture  of 
an  enemy's  gun  boat— Fort  George  invested— American 
outposts  attacked— Second  expedition  to  York— British 
capture  the  Growler  and  Eagle— Enter  Champlain  vil- 
iagCi  and  destroy  the  private  houses— Chase  of  the  Bri- 
tish feet  on  lake  Ontario— Encampment  at  fort  George^ 
and  re-possession  of  Newark  by  the  enemy — He  retires 
to  his  entrenchments— Capture  of  a  British  officer,  by 
an  American  sentinel. 

THE  encreasing  indisposition  of  general  Dearborn  ha- 
ving rendered  him  unfit  for  active  duty,  he  resigned  the 
command  of  the  northern  army,  and  retired  to  his  >e- 
sideiiue.  General  Leivia  had  repaired  to  Sac  kett's  Harbour, 
to  act  in  concert  with  commodore  Cliauncey,  who  had 
returned  to  that  place,  and  was  making  active  prepara- 
tions to  restore  the  batteries  and  buildings  to  their  former 
condition.  The  command  of  fort  George  and  the  depen- 
dencies of  that  place  and  fort  Niagara,  devolved  on  gene- 
ral Boyd. 

On  the  14th  of  June,  lieutenant  Chauncey  was  ordered 
to  proceed  in  the  Lady  of  the  Lake,  to  cruise  off  Presque- 
isle,  and  to  intercept  the  enemy's  transport  vessels. — 
On  the  16th,  he  fell  in  with,  and  captured  the  British 
schooner  the  Lady  Murray,  then  bound  from  Kingston  to 
York,  with  an  English  ensign,  and  fifteen  non-commission- 
ed officers  and  privates.  She  was  loaded  with  provisions, 
powder,  shot,'  and  fixed  ammunition,  and  was  brought 
into  Sackett's  Harbour  on  the  18th.  Her  crew  consisted 
of  six  men. 

On   thf>   A»Tnp   tinxr    tht\   TlpWicTi    fiaat   annanm^  .^f^^/t     «I.^ 

town  of  Sodus,  ou  a  bay  of  that  name,  whic    is  formed 


ffifr      F 


m 


144 

on  the  American  side  of  Lake  Ontario,  between  Gennes 
see  and  Oswego  rivers.  General  Burnet,  of  the  Nevr 
York  miutia,  suspecting  that  they  intended  to  land  their 
troops,  and  capture  a  quantity  of  provisions,  ordered  o 
a  regiment  from  the  county  of  Ontario.  TJie  militia  co 
lected  m  great  haste,  and  arrived  at  Sodus  on  the  follow-' 
ng  mornmg.  But  the  enemy,  well  knowing  that  hi  an- 
pearance  would  excite  the  alarm  of  the  inhabitants,  drei 
off  h,9  forces  until  their  apprehensions  should  be  subs  ded 

after  the  md,t,a  had  been  discharged.     In  contemplation 
of  h.s  return   the  inhabitants  had  removed  all  the  pub! 
stores  from  the  buildings  on  the  water's  edge,  to  a'^.ma 
distance  m  the  woods,  and  on  the  re-appearance  of  t 
hostile  squadron,  a  second  alarm  was  immediately  auj 
and  expresses  sent  after  the  discharged  militia   which 
overtook  and  brought  them  back,  wilh'a  large  "inW 
ment.     Before  their  return,  the  enemy  had  landed,  and 
finding  that  the  provisions  had  been  removed,  they  set  fi! 

•   mo'stoHh?^"-''!**""'"^^  ^"  *^^  *«*^«'-«^  ^-'-^J^ 
t^r'  f  .     .P.""^^*?  ^'""^^'^y  ""^^""^'y  description.   They 
f^m  T?**  -''  '  y"^'^"  '''^^  ^^^  inhabitants,  to  des  ^ 
from  destroying  the  remaining  houses,  on  condition  o 

in'wl"TS''""F'''.^?^  ""^  provisions,  which  tl^ 
knew  had  been  deposited  at  that  plnrc  These  articles 
were  then  not  more  than  two  hundred  yards  from^^ 
village,  yet  the  enemy  did  not  choose  tS  attempt  the^^ 

hS^'afi'''    H  '"H^*  ^?  *^^"^"  ^"^«  «»  ambuscade,  b 
he  threatened  the  entire  destruction  of  every  house  in  the 

Wr  Th''^  ""'''  not  immediately  delivered  over 
mm.     The  appearance  of  the  militia,  prevented  the  ex- 

ITT^ri'  "^"^^'"^'  *^"  enemy  i^™edia"tu- 
lowing  mornhT^^  "^  '''  ^^'^  ^"  ^^^  ^^'• 

On  the  20th  of  June,  the  whole  fleet  approached  Os- 
wego,  and  made  several  attempts  to  land  tlieir  troops  but 
they  returned  each  time  to  their  shipping,  upon  seeing 
«iat  the  troops  at  that  place  were  prepared  to  meet  tiiem 
The  American  force  at  that  time,  consisted  of  eight  S 
d  ed  muitia  and  a  small  party  of  regulars,  under  command 
of  lieutenant  colonel  Carr,  by  whose  skilful  management 
the  enemy  were  persuaded  that  the  port  was  ^anS 
^jf  a  iiu.^erou«  i>uuy  oi  troops,  and  they  became  extreme^ 


#- 


H5 

\y  cautious  in  their  operations.  Fearful  of  being  over- 
powered, they  relinquished  their  intention  of  landing,  and 
withdrew  from  before  the  place.  Lieutenant  Woolsey, 
of  the  Oneida,  and  other  naval  officers  and  seamen,  were 
at  Oswego,  and  had  previously  removed  the  stores  from 
that  place  to  Sackett's  Harbour  *  The  fleet  then  proceed- 
ed to  the  neighbourhood  of  fort  George,  where  it  lay  for 
several  days. 

A  few  days  previous  to  the  departure  of  general  Dear- 
born from  that  post,  a  body  of  the  enemy  had  collected 
on  a  high  ground,  about  eight  miles  from  Queenstown, 
for  the  purpose  of  procuring  supplies,  and  of  harrassing 
those  inhabitants  who  were  considered  to  be  friendly  to 
the  United  States.     On  the  28th,  a  party  of  troops,  con- 
sisting of  live  hundred  infantry,  a  squadron  of  dragoons, 
arompany  of  New-York  mounted  volunteers,  and  captain 
M'Dowell's  corps  of  light  artillery,  being  in  all  about  six 
hundred   men,   under  command   of   colonel    Boerstler, 
were  detached  from  the  American  encampment  at  fort 
George,  for  the  purpose  of  cutting  oft'  the  supplies  of 
the  enemy,  and  of  breaking  up  their  encampment  at 
the  Beaver  Dams.     The  British   force  which  was  sta- 
tioned there,  was  composed   of  one  company   of  the 
104th  regiment,  about  two  hundred  militia,  and  sixty  In- 
dlaiis,  amounting  to  three  hundred  and  forty  men.     At 
about  eight  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  24th,  nine 
miles  west  of  Queenstown,  the  American  detachment  was 
attacked  from  an  ambuscade.    The  acti(.n  commenced 
with  the  dragoons,  who  were  placed  m  the  rear.     The 
infantry  was  instanlly  brought  into  a  position  to  return  the 
enemy's  tire  to  advantage,  and  very  soon  after  drove 
them  a  considerable  distance  into  the  woods.     The  In- 
dians then  made  a  circuitouK  route,  appeared  in  front 
and  opened  a  fire  upon  the  mounted  riflemen  who  were  sta- 
tioned there,  'i^icy  were  immediately  repulsed,  and  again 
retired  to  the  woods.     Every  attempt  was  then  made  to 
draw  them  into  the  open  ground,  but  without  effect.    A 
few  of  the  boldest  of  them,  ventured  from  their  lurking 
plates,  but  were  immediately  com^  3lled  to  fly  to  them 
again  for  shelter.     The  enemy's  force  was  now  continu- 
ally augmenting,  and  he  was  every  instant  gaining  a  su- 

f"" v=      -^  r-_t:-ccit,   .,as   1!!^:;  «r»n;ri;ii,  iur  a  afiOri  tils- 

tence,  which  was  effected  with  trifling  loss.     Colonel 
^^fstler,  suspecting  that  he  was  surrounded  by  a  reiy 


#• 


is  ' 


n 


.'! 


'■•^- 


146 

superior  and  numerous  force,  despatched  an  express  to 
general  Dearborn  for  reinforcements,  and  informed  him 
of  lus  mtetition  to  maintain  his  position  until  they  should 
arrive.     Colonel  Christie  was  ordered  to  proceed  imme- 
diately with  the  151h  regiment  and  a  company  of  artilje- 
ry,  to  the  support  of  cofonel  Boerstler ;  but  he  had  not 
pi  oceeded  farther  than  Queenstown,  when  he  was  inform- 
ed that  the  latter  had  surrendered  his  detachment. 
The  express  had  scarcely  been  forwarded,  when  lieu- 
#  tenant  Fdzgdibon,  who  commanded  the  British  militia 
and  Indians,  rode  up  to  colonel  B(esrtler,with  a  flag,  and 
miormed  him,  on  the  honour  of  a  British  soldier,  thai  the 
regular  force,  commanded  by  lieutenant  colonel  Bishop 
was  double  that  of  the  American,  and  Uiat  the  Indians 
were  at  least   seven    hundred    in    number.       Colonel 
Boerstler,  trusting  to   the  veracity  of  the  officer,  fear- 
ing tiie  impracticability  of  escaping,  and  being  unwilling 
to  abandon  his  wounded,  agreed  to  terms  of  capitulation' 
by  which  fhe  wounded  were  to  be  treated  with  the  utmost 
tenderness,  the  officers  to  be  permitted  to  wear  their  side 
arms,  private  property  to  be  respected,  and  the  volun- 
teers to  be  paroled,  and  permitted  to  return  to  their 
homes. 

Lieutenant  colonel  Bishop  was  not  on  the  ground  at 
the  time  when  this  capitulation  was  effected,  as  the  Bri- 
tish lieutenant  had  asserted  on  his  honour,  but  arrived 
there  m  time  to  contiim  the  articles  of  surrender  These 
were  no  sooner  agreed  upon  than  they  were  violated, 
a  he  otBcers  being  deprived  of  their  side  arms  for  the  gra- 
tification of  the  Indians,  who  robbed  them  also  of  their 
<^oats,  and  whatever  ornaments  of  dress  they  coveted 
No  possible  account  of  the  number  of  killed  or  wounded, 
on  either  side,  could  be  obtained.  Colonel  Boerstler  was 
slightly  wounded,  and  captain  Machesney,  of  the  6th  se- 
verely, m  repelling  the  attack  of  the  Indians. 

Colonel  Christie  returned  to  fort  George,  with  informa- 
tion ot  this  disaster,  and  the  British  forces  moved  down 
upon  Queenstown,  occupied  that  place  and  its  neighbour- 
hood, and  in  a  few  days  afterwards  invested  the  Ameri- 
can camp,  having  been  previously  joined  by  all  the  Bri- 
tish forces  from  the  head  of  the  lake. 

General  TIacent  was  stationed  at  Bi'fJinirfnn  Hpiffht. 
with  a  smau  tbrce,  and  general  De  ivaitenburg  lay  en- 
camped at  the  Ten  Mile  Creek. 


m 


m- 


l! 


147 


u  e  neau  ol  the  lake,  in  violation  of  the  article  which  nrn^ 

stttS;:  t  "beTent  .h'^"  ^'^^  ^^^h  the;t'i:::Jdt5  to 

liingston,  to  be  kept  there  as  prisoners  of  war     Thev 

7J/of  men'^aK  T^'^"  ^"^  *^«  boaTsTunde;^ 
ZLfv  1  \u^  *  lieutenant.  When  within  twelve 
miles  of  York,  they  rose  upon  the  guard,  and  after  aTtruff 

ctrfe'for\TN-"  ^^"-iJ^^'^^h  boats  and  shaded  ,4 
course  for  fort  Niagara.  After  rowing  nearly  all  niffht. 
and  escaping  from  an  enemy's  schooner,  with  g?Li^^^^ 
culty  they  arrived  safely  with  their  prisoners  Teffec 

Z  olunlre'  Z?:i  '"^J-.^^-P^^  whrcoinred 
iLIfhr  «  -f-'  FJ^  *^^  '^Snal  to  his  men,  by  knocking 
tnJhl    fr^  J'e«tenant,  and  personally'  encounter  n| 

^  restr^nt'u^^^^^^^^^^^  he  fortunately  sub^dued,  and  k^f 

inresiraint  until  the  second  boat  lay  alon<r  side  of  him 

plarS^  'h^r'-  f"™'."'  ■^"'^^  o?0"t  Pos^Took 
piaee,  which,  though  not  quite  so  important  in  thnir 
consequences,  were  equally  m  brilUant  us  »nv  nf  «,i 
occurrences,  which  had  previously  KpiTedon  the  m 
agarafrontier.  Among  them  was  a  severe  sKsb  brourii 

posts,  ot  the  American  encampment  at  fort  Georee  on  the 

ltu":nan."EIdridg:  VfTA^mT"'-  *»"  .=«'J«""" 

nine  men  ;  whilst  a  larger  bod?  was  nrfnarino-  f«  e^u 

n™  under  the  comma„LfmajrX.S"''|hei'Ce" 
IZl  »    '"""™''n'  Eldridge  led  him  into  a  thick  wood 

we.    All  the  prisoners  including  the  wounded  wp^p 
hen  mhumanly  murdered,  and  their  persons  treated  7nZ 

'*;^"coTdr  ^r '']  "^^^^  ^^'"^^™"  ^^ 

ri^uJZ.l  ^on"|?ct  may,  perhaps,  scarcelv  obtain  h.i:.^ 
(SntT^'  f  *^^  '"*''*  Obdurate  reader,  of  a  much  more 
^^^  period,  cannot  but  beexcited  to  the  bighesTd^ 


O 


m 


. 


I 


ii. 


14d 

gree  of  indignation,  and  those  of  the  writer  are  not  at  all 
lo  be  envied,  when  necessity  obliges  him  to  describe  the 
suflferinga  of  his  countrymen,  by  the  relation  of  facts  which 
stand  too  well  authenticated  before  him.   The  same  ene- 
my who  had  not  long  ago  implored  the  mercy  of  the 
American  officer,  to  be  extended  to  his  British  prisoners, 
now  fell  upon  the  defenceless  captives  of  this  party.,  and 
scalped  their  heads  whilst  they  were  yet  alive,  split  open 
their  skulls  with  their  tom-hawks,  tore  their  hearts  out  of 
their  bodies,  and  stabbed  and  otherwise  mutilated  them. 
Lieutenant  Eldridge  was  supposed  to  have  experienc- 
ed the  same  treatment.    The  inhabitants  of  the  neigh- 
bourhood, having  informed  the  garrison  that  he  had  been 
led,  wounded,  into  the  woods,  between  two  Indians,  a 
flag  was  sent/^ut  on  the  next  day  to  ascertain  his  fate, 
which  soon  after  returned  with  an  answer,  that  lieutenant 
Eldridge  having  killed  one  of  the  Indian  chieftains,  the 
warriors  of  his  tribe  had  retaliated  this  supposed  act  of 
'  treachery,  by  putting  him  to  instant  death.    But  this  re- 
ply was  ascertained  to  have  been  a  subterfuge  of  the  ene- 
my, to  evade  the  necessity  of  accounting  for  a  prisoner 
who  was  known  to  have  been  taken  alive. 

The  commission  of  this,  and  other  outrages  of  the  same 
nature  by  the  enemy,  at  length  induced  the  American 
commander,  general  Boyd,  to  receive  a  party  of  the  Se- 
neca and  Tuscorora  tribes  into  the  service  of  the  United 
States,  by  way  of  intimidpting  the  British  and  Indians,  and 
of  preventing  a  recurrence  of  their  barbarities.    Shortly 
after  they  had  rendezvoused  at  fort  George,  and  had  cove- 
nanted not  to  scalp  or  murder  any  of  the  enemy's  prison- 
ers, who  might  fall  into  their  hands,  they  were  joined  to 
a  party  of  volunteers,  and  sent  to  cut  ofif  one  of  the  out- 
posts of  the  enemy,  whose 'principal  encampment  was  up- 
wards of  two  miles  from  the  fort.   The  American  Indians 
were  commanded  by  major  Henry  O'Ball,  or  Young  Corn- 
planter,  who  succeeded  in  capturing  and  bringing  in  twelve 
of  the  British  Indians,  and  four  of  their  white  troops,  with 
a  loss  of  only  two  Indians  killed. 

The  army  at  fort  George  was  at  this  time  in  a  state  of 
inactivity— a  war  of  outposts  only  being  carried  on,  which, 
thouffh  resulting  in  various  success,  was  of  use  to  the  uh- 
disciplined  divisions  of  the  encampment. 

On  the  morning  of  the  llth  July,  a  British  regalar 


■s?^ 


ill 


149 

force  crossed  the  Niagara  below  Black  Rock,  and  moved 
up,  with  great  rapidity,  to  the  attack  of  that  post.  The 
militia  who  were  stationed  there,  immediately  fled  in  con- 
siderable numbers,  a  few  of  them,  however,  stood  their 
ground,  and  immerging  from  a  wood,  at  seventy  yards 
distance  from  tlie  enemy,  annoyed  him  very  severely. 
But  this  annoyance  was  not  regarded  by  the  British,  who 
entered  the  place,  set  lire  to  the  barracks,  the  block 
house,  and  other  buildings,  spiked  several  piepes  of  can- 
non, and  took  off  a  quantity  of  provisions.  Whilst  car- 
rying the  property  to  their  boats,  they  were  attacked  by 
a  force  of  regulars,  militia,  and  a  few  Indians,  who  poured 
upon  them  a  very  destructive  fire.  The  enemy's  force 
amounted  to  two  hundred  and  fifty  men — nine  of  whom, 
and  a  captain  (Saunders)  of  the  41st,  were  left  upon  the 
shore.  The  force  which  was  brought  against  them,  was 
precisely  equal  to  their  own.  They  retired  partially  to 
their  boats,  and  in  putting  off  from  the  shore,  lost  upwards 
of  fifty,  in  killed  and  wounded.  Among  the  latter  was 
lieutenant  colonel  Bishop,  mortally. 

On  the  17th,  a  small  expedition  of  volunteers,  and  about 
forty  soldiers,  left  fort  George  in  two  small  rovvboats,  pro- 
ceeded to  the  head  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  captured  a 
gun  boat  mounting  one  24  pounder,  fourteen  balteaux 
loaded  with  property,  and  four  officers  and  sixty-one  men. 

On  the  same  day  an  outwork  of  the  American  garrison, 
was  attacked  by  two  hundred  British  and  some  Indians. 
Colonel  Scott  was  sent  out  to  oppose  them.  He  took  one 
field  piece  into  an  open  field,  and  assisted  by  lieutenant 
Smith,  after  a  contest  of  one  hour,  succeeded  in  driving 
off  the  enemy.  Majors  Armstrong,  Cummings,  captains 
Towson,  Madison,  Vaidalsem,  and  Birdsall,  the  former  of 
whom  was  wounded,  were  also  actively  engaged.  The 
American  loss  amounted  to  four  killed,  and  ns  many 
wounded. 

Besides  the  militia,  under  major  Chapin,  who  had 
been  captured  at  the  Beaver  Dams,  several  parties  of 
regulars,  made  prisoners  at  the  same  place,  also  effected 
their  escape,  in  consequence  of  the  refusal  of  the  enemy 
to  parole  them.  On  the  27th,  a  large  boat  arrived  at 
fort  Georgf ,  with  one  lieutenant  and  eight  Canadian  mi- 
niiii,  wno  naa  oecu  laKeu  uy  inree  uuiieti  siaies'  regu- 
lars and  five  New  York  militiamen,  as  the  former  were 


't 


M 


>  11 


,i;i': 


'.-tawk 


conducting  them  to  Kingston.  About  the  fiame  time,  , 
bent  with  fourteen  of  colonel  Boerstler's  men,  and  two  o 
the  enemy,  arrived  from  York.  They  communicated  in 
telligence  of  the  °rvnre  treatment  which  the  Americai 
prisoners  expe  iLnred  thtre,  and  general  Boyd  and  com 
modore  Chcumcoy  c.'.  rmined  on  an  expedition  to  thai 
place. 

On  the  28th,  commodore  Chauncey  sailed  with  colonel 
Scott  and  about  three  hundred  men.  They  landed  a 
York,  captured,  or  destroyed,  the  public  property  an( 
stores  of  the  enemy,  and  aftt  r  oa.aiiid,  tlie  barracks,  which 
liad  been  spared  at  the  capture  of  that  place  in  April,  un 
dcr  an  impression  that  their  liberality  would  be  appreciate( 
by  the  enemy,  they  re-embarked,  and  returned  unmolest 
ed  to  fort  George,  bringing  with  them  all  the  sick  and 
wounded  of  colonel  Boerstler's  men,  whom  they  coul^ 
find. 

A  few  w^eks  preceding  this  affair,  the  United  States' 
armed  vessels  the  Growler  and  Eagle,  weie  captured  after 
a  desperate  engagement  of  three  hours  and  an  half,  with  a 
number  of  British  gun  boats,  and  detachments  from  the 
garrison  at  Isle  aux  Noix.  The  action  took  place  near  Ash 
Island,  on  the  river  Sorelle,  or  RichelieUf  or  that  part  of  lake 
Champlain  which  empties  into  the  St.  Lawrence.  The 
schooners  were  commanded  by  lieut.  Sidney  Smith,  and 
were  the  only  armed  vessels,  excepting  a  few  gun  boats, 
and  small  barges,  which  constituted  the  American  naval 
force  on  lake  Champlain.  Their  capture,  therefore,  gave 
the  enemy  the  entire  ascendancy  on  that  lake.  The  Bri 
tish  stated  their  loss  at  three  men  wounded.  The  loss  on 
board  the  schooners  was  one  killed  and  eight  wounded 

Availing  themselves  of  the  advantages  thus  gained,  the 
British  equipped  aad  refitted  the  captured  vessels,  and 
cruised  along  the  shores  of  lake  Champlain,  committing 
every  species  of  depredation  upon  tlie  property  of  the  in- 
habitants. On  the  30th  of  July,  they  crossed  the  line  at 
Champlain  with  two  sloops  of  war,  three  gun  boats,  and 
forty  batteaux,  having  on  board  a  force  of  fourteen  hun 
dred  men.  On  the  3  Ist,  they  arrived,  and  landed,  at  Platts 
burg.    The  militia  were  immediately  called  out,  but  not 

more  than  three  hundred  collected,  and  there  is  no  ac 
^_.._i  «.*  ii.  _"..  1 • - 1 _ I  •_  •_<•_    ••__•    " 

UUUZiL  Vi  UiC'ir  uiiViiig  oliOVVU  oiujf   Kiuii  oi   lesiStMllCe  lOine 

invaders.    The  British  troops,  who  were  commanded  by 


m 


«l 


it  I' 


151 

coionei  Murray,  assured  tho  inhabitants  of  ^lattsburs  tijal 
their  private  property  shoultl  be  resp«'cte<l.  But  after  de- 
stroying the  blocl£  house,  the  arsenaf,  the  armory,  the 
public  hospital,  and  the  military  cantonment,  they  wan- 
tonly burned  several  private  storehouses,  and  carried  off 
immense  n'Jantities  of  the  stock  of  individuals.  On 
the  first  of  August  they  embarked,  and  stood  out  of  the 
bay.  Thence  they  proceeded  to  the  town  of  Swanton, 
in  Vermont,  landed  a  part  of  their  force,  and  committed 
several  outrages  of  the  same  character. 

The  American  and  British  fleets,  now  well  appoint- 
ed and  equipped,  were  both  on  lake  Ontario.     Com- 
modore Chauncey  being  within   sight  of  fort  George, 
and  Sir  James   Yeo  sailing  in  that   direction,  on  the 
7th  of  August  they  came  within  sight  of  each  other. 
The  British  fleet  consisted  of  six  sail,  the  American  of 
twelve,  the  majority  of  them  being  very  small.    Commo- 
dore Chauncey  immediately  weighe(f  anchor,  and  manoeu- 
vred to  gain  (he  wind.    Having  passed  the  leeward  of  the 
enemy's  line,  and   being  abreast  of  his  van   ship,  the 
Wolfe,  he  fired  a  few  guns  to  ascertain  whcthi^r  he  could 
reach  the  hostile  fleet.     The  shot  falling  short,  the  com- 
inodore  wore,  and  hauled  upon  a  wind  on  the  starboard 
tack  J  the  rear  of  the  schooners  being  then   about  six 
miles  astern.     The  British  commodore  wore  also,  an<l 
hauled  upon  a  wind,  on  the  same  tack,  nut  observing  that 
the  American  fleet  would  be  able  to  weather  him  on  the 
next,  he  tacked  again  and  made  all  sail  to  the  northward. 
Commodore  Chauncey  pursued  him.     The  chace  con- 
tinued ut'til  night;  the  schooners  could  not  get  up,  and  a 
signal  was  given,  to  give  up  the  pursuit,  and  t<.  form  In 
close  order.  At  midnight  two  of  the  schooners  w<  •  e  miss- 
ing, which  were  afterwards  found  to  be  the  Hamilton  and 
the  Scourge;  both  of  which  had  overs*  t  and  sunk  in  a 
heavy  squall.  Sixteen  men  only  escaped  drowning.  The 
fleet  lost  by  this     tfortunate  accident,  two  excellent  ofli- 
cers,  lieutenant  Winter  and  sailing  ma  ter  Osgood,  a  num- 
ber of  fine  ocamen,  ajid  nineteen  guns.    The  enemy  then 
gamed  a  great  superiority.     On  the  morning  of  the  8th 
he  was  discovered  bearing  up  with  an  intention  of  bring- 
ing the  Americans  to  action.    Commodore  Chauncey 
then  directed  the  schooners  to  sweep  un  and  eno-a."ft  him. 
When  the  van  of  the  schooners  was  within  one^nlile  and 

02 


it. 


f\ 


iS2 

•a  half  of  th«  enemy,  he  bore  up  for  the  schoonerB  in  order 
to  cut  them  off,  but  in  this  he  did  not  succeed.  He  then 
hauled  his  wind  and  hove  too.  A  squall  coming  on,  and 
com.  ChauBcey,  being  apprehensive  of  separating  from  the 
heavy  sailing  schooners,  he  ran  the  squadron  in  towards 
Niagara,  and  anchored  outside  the  bar.  Here  he  received 
on  board  from  fort  George,  one  hundred  and  fifty  soldiers, 
and  distributed  them  through  the  fleet,  to  act  as  marines.— 
Before  12  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  9th,  discovered  the 
enemy's  fleet,  and  stood  for  him,  and  after  manoeuvring 
until  1 1  o'clock,  at  times  pursuing  him,  and  being  pursued 
by  him,  the  rear  of  the  line  opened  its  fire  on  him.  In 
fifteen  minutes  the  fire  became  general  on  both  sides.  At 
half  past  eleven,  the  weather  line  bore  up,  and  passed  to 
the  leeward,  except  the  Growler  and  Julia,  which  soon 
after  tacked  to  the  southward,  and  brouglit  the  British 
between  them  and  the  remainder  of  the  American  fleet, 
which  then  e«lged  away  to  engage  tlie  enemy  to  more  ad,- 
vantage,  and  ,to  lead  him  from  the  Growler  and  Julia.  Sir 
J.  Yeo  having  separated  the  two  vessels  from  the  squad- 
ron, exchanged  a  few  shot,  in  passing,  with  the  Ck:neral 
Pike,  (commodore  Chauncey's  ship)  without  injuring  her, 
and  pursued  the  schooners.  A  firing  commenced  between 
them,  and  was  continued  until  one  o'clock  on  the  morning 
of  the  10th,  when  the  schooners  surrendered,  and  the 
fleets  lost  sight  of  each  other.  Soon  after  day  light,  they 
again  became  visible ;  but  no  disposition  being  shown  by 
the  enemy  to  come  down  on  commodore  Cbauncey,  he 
shortly  after  ran  towards  Sackett's  Harbour,  to  provision 
the  squadron,  and  arrived  there  on  the  13tb. 

About  this  time  Sic  George  Prevost  joined  the  army, 
-which  was  then  investing  fort  George,  and  meditated  an 
attack  upon  the  American  forces.  Captain  Fitzgerald  of 
the  49ih,  assailed  an  outpost  on  the  Niagara,  and  after 
gaining  the  rear  of  the  guard,  was  fired  on,,  and  charged, 
bv  captain  Davenport,  of  the  16th  United  States'  infantry, 
.wW^^u^  ^i^  vtray  through  Fitzgerald's  party,  rallied  his^own 
and  made  prisoners  of  ten  men.  At  this  moment  captain 
Deleno,  of  the  2i3d,  came  up.  and  captured  Fitzgerald, 
who  was  then  wounded.  The  whole  line  of  outposts  was 
at  this  instant  attacked,  and  driven  in.  Captain  Vandal- 
sem,of  the  15th,  who  commanded  the  outpost  upon  But- 

1pi**e  rnaA.  war  r.iif  off  Hv  the  tfninnv :  hut  hastilv  {nrvmnit 


IB$ 


7  provision 


his  imall  party,  he  deaperately  forced  his  waj  through  a 
superior  body,  and  brought  his  guard  safely  into  the  gar- 
riaon.  The  British  forces  gained  possession  of  the  town 
of  Newarls,  and  skirted  the  woods  opposite  fort  George, 
within  gun-shot  of  the  American  camp.  Brigadier  gene- 
ral Williams,  who  had  a  few  days  before  arrived  at  that 
post,  advanced  from  the  works,  wilh  his  brigade,  but  after 
a  trifling  skirmish,  he  was  ordered  back  by  general  Boyd, 
and  the  troops  were  directed  to  act  only  on  the  defensive. 
The  British  soon  after  retired  to  their  entrenchments! 
which  were  then  about  two  miles  distant.  The  loss  of 
the  garrison,  on  this  occasion,  amounted  to  thirty,  in  kill- 
ed, wounded  and  missing.  The  capture  of  captain  PitB- 
gerald  and  his  men,  was  the  only  loss  which  the  enemy 
is  known  to  have  sustained. 

Affairs  of  outposts,  in  which  the  character  of  the  Ame- 
rican arms  was  not  in  the  least  diminished,  were  now  oc- 
curring daily.    Colonel  Breariy,  and  other  officers  of  the 
different  regiments,  distinguished  themselves ;  and  a  spi- 
rit of  emulation  pervaded  the  whole  American  line.— -Or- 
ders had  been  issued  to  the  sentinels,  to  permit  no  one  to 
pass  within  their  chain,  without  the  knowledge  of  the 
commanding  officer.     But  a  British  officer,  in  passing 
from  the  left  to  the  right  of  his  encampment,  having  by 
mistake  approached  the  Anwrican  line,  induced  a  senti- 
nel to  violate  these  orders.    Thomas  Gray,  a  private  of 
the  15th,  who  at  this  time  happened  to  be  on  guard,  seeing 
the  error  into  which  the  enemy»3  officer  was  likely  to  fall 
permitted  him  to  enter  the  line  of  sentinels  before  he  chaK 
lenged  him.    When  the  officer  immediately  surrendered 
proved  to  be  captain  Gordon,  of  the  Royal  Scots,  and 
was  conducted  to  general  Boyd,  who  afterwards  present- 
ed the  sentinel  with  a  silver  cup,  engraved  with  inscrip- 
tions commemorative  of  the  event  by  wliich  he  had  won 
it.— The  American  army  sustained  about  this  time,  a  se- 
rious loss  in  the  death  of  colonel  Christie,  at  fort  Georg«i 
and  of  lieutenant  colonel  Tuttle,  at  Sackett's  Harbour^ 
•both  of  whom  died  of  severe  illness. 


(I 


r  V.' 


H  m 


'IW 


0 


if- 


III 


'      ^1 


•f« 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Thl  North  Western  Army. — Britiah  appear  again  hefort. 

fivri  Meigs. — Defence  of  fori  Stephenson,  Loner  San- 
dusky.—'Capture  of  the  British  fleet  on  Lake  Erie. — 
North  Western  Army  reinforced  from  Kentucky. — Is 
transported  by  (he  American  fleet  to  Canada.-  -Capture 
of  Mafden. — The  Americans  enter  Sandwich. — Pursue 
the  British  up  La  Tranche. — Skirmish  in  Chailmm. — 
Battle  of  ihe  Thames. — Defeat  and  capture  of  Ge- 
neral Proctor's  army. — Escape  of  that  oflicer. — Death  0/' 
Teeumseh — Destruction  of  the  town. — The  urmy  mils 

fbr^  and  arrives  at  BuffcUoe, 

THE  combination  of  the  British  forces  on  the  Niagara, 
the  augmentation  which  they  were  daily  receiving  by  re- 
inforcements from  the  interior  of  Upper  Canada,  and  the 
rumours  which  were  thence  sent  forth,  of  an  intended 
coalition  between  these  and  the  army  of  general  Proctor, 
from  Detroit ;  all  contributed  tc  persuade  the  American 
commanders,  that  ttie  enemy  had  become  regardless  of 
the  defences  of  the  garrisons  of  Detroit  and  Maiden ;  and 
that  their  leading  object,  for  the  aecomplishm'^nt  of  which 
they  had  determined  to  draw  together  every  species  of 
troops  within  the  province,  was  the  expulsion  of  the  Ame- 
rican forces  from  the  Canadian  territory.  But  the  vigi- 
lance of  the  commander  in  chief  of  the  north  western  ar- 
my, enabled  him  not  only  to  discover  the  enemy's  real 
design,  but  that  their  regulars  and  a  gieat  body  of  tlie  In- 
dians, were  at  that  time  concealed  ia  the  neighbourhood 
of  forts  Meigs  and  Stephenson,  and  feeling  confident  of 
dieir  expectations  that  the  regulars  of  his  army  would  be 

Ordered  forward  to  the  »id  and  co-operation  of  the  army 
f  the  north ;  cr,  that  the  militia  would  be  called  from  a 


•ite- 


In  befom 
ver  San- 
I  Erie. — 

'Capture 
—Pursue 
itJmm. — 
of  Ge- 
■Death  of' 
my  mils 


?«) 


Niagara, 
ag  by  re- 
,  and  the 
intended 
Proctor, 
Lmerican 
I'diess  of 
den ;  and 
of  which 
pedes  of 
he  Ame- 
the  vigi- 
jstern  ar- 
my's real 
)f  tlie  Id- 
lourhood 
Indent  of 
vould  be 
the  army 
d  from  a 


^  :■¥: 


"T 


^4; 


/'  / ,/  i  li 


ScatfJi'o  yf"  t.<//iehu'ti 


U'.Slricir/.iii.i     A\: 


— Line  1,  PicKets. 
Outward  c-mbanknn 
^.uard  block  house. 
icker  gates.  L.  Vi 
thofdo.forty-e'gW 


i",  EiTibankmeTit  from  tlie  dilch  to  and  agMuist  the  plcliet.    Line  3, 

Iglacis.    A.  Block  Jiouse,  first  attacked  by  cat  non  5.    li.  liostion  from 

Jospital  while  attacked.     E.  Military  store  houses,     F.  Commissary's 

(gate.    •  Well.     5  Cannon,  six  pounders.    2  Mortars,  five  and  an  half 

P.  Craves  of  It.  col.  Short,  and  It.  Govaon,  who  fell  in  tlie  ditch.      . 


<, 


w-^ 


!i|!^S| 


I&5 

tour  of  duty,  which  would  thence  be  deemed  unnecessary 
to  perform  ;^-general  Harrison  extended  his  defensive  ar- 
rangements, and  enlarged  his  forces  by  new  requisitions 
upon  the  governors  of  the  contiguous  state  and  territory. 
He  was  still  engaged  at  his  head  quarters,  at  Seneca,  in 
fixing  the  destination  of  the  new  troops^  as  they  arrived,  <# 
and  m  distributing  them  among  the  different  posts.—Fort 
Meigs  was  placed  in  an  excellent  state  for  vigorous  de- 
fence, and  active  exertions  were  making  to  fortify  fort 
,  .tephenson.  To  the  entire  equipment  of  the  latter,  many 
difficulties  presented  themselves,  and  'fa  situation  was  con- 
siaered  to  be  so  defenceless,  that  general  Harrison  direct- 
ed the  commandant  to  destroy  the  public  property,  and 
immed  ately  to  abandon  the  fort,  if  the  enemy  should 
at  any  time  appear  before  it.— During  the  month  of 
July,  the  assembled  tribes  of  Indian  warriors,  under  Te- 
cumseh,  (who  was  reported  to  have  then  received  the 
eommission  and  emoluments  cf  a  brigadier  general)  and 
a  conaiderable  force  of  regulars,  under  general  Proctor, 
had  been  well  trained  for  an  expedition,  the  object  of 
which  was  to  reduce  fort  Stephenson,  and  thence  to  pro- 
ceed  to  a  second  investment  of  fort  Meigs.    Tecumseh 
was  despattned  with  two  thousand  warriors  and  a  few  re- 
gulars,  to  make  a  diversion  favourable  to  the  attack  of 
Proctor  and  Dixon,  upon  fort  S<ephcnson.  He  approach- 
ed fort  Meigs,  and  kept  up  a  heavy  firing  at  a  distance,  in 
order  to  persuade  the  garrison  that  an  engagement  had 
taken  place  between  the  Indian  forces  and  a  part  of  gene- 
ral Harrison's  division.    By  the  arriral  at  fort  Meigs,  of 
an  officer  from  the  head  quarters,  this  scheme  was  fortu- 
nately frustrated;  and  Tecumseh  then  approached  the 
gamson,  and  surrounded  :  -vith  his  whole  force. 

From  Seneca  Town,  scouting  parties  had  been  sent  out 
m  every  direction,  along  the  shores  of  Sandusky  bay,  with 
instructions  to  keep  up  a  continual  communication  with  the 
commander  in  chiei.  On  the  morning  of  the  Ist  of  Au- 
gast,  hfc  was  ;nformed  of  the  approach  of  the  enemy  to  the 
mouth  of  the  bay;  fr  Stephenson,  which  was  situated 
twenty  miles  abov  ,  e  dently  being  their  object.  Early 
ID  tlie  evening,  the  .^<^i-,  jined  forces,  consisting  of  seven 
oi»nrtred  Indians,  under  Dixon,  and  five  hundred  regulars, 
under  genera!  Pioctor,  who  commanded  in  chief,  appear- 
ed before  the  fortv    The  gun  boats,  from  which  ihev  had 


M 


1-^^t^- 


I 


lfi6 

lAoded,  were  at  the  same  time  drawn  up,  to  bear  upon  one 
of  its  angleii.    General  Proctor  immediately  disposed  hig 
troops  so  as  to  surround  the  garrison,  and  entirely  to  cut 
off  its  retreat.    His  immenge  superiority  of  numbers,  en- 
abled him  to  invest  it  so  perfectly,  that  the  Americjin 
troops,  whose  whole  effective  force  did  not  amount  to  one 
hundred  and  sixty  men,  had  no  probable  ptospect  of  cut- 
ting their  way  through,  and  major  Croghan,  who  had  been 
promoted  to  the  command  of  this  post,  for  his  gallant  con 
duct  at  the  scige  of  fort  Meigs,  having  already  (lisobeyed 
the  orders  ),f  the  commander  in  chief,  by  not  destroyinj; 
and  abandoning  the  fort,  had  made  arrangements  to  repel 
an  assault,  by  cutting  a  deep  ditch,  and  hastily  construct- 
ing a  stockade  work  around  it ;  and,  being  ably  support- 
ed by  his  officers  and  men,  he  determined  on  defend- 
ing the  garrisivn,  though  he  should  sell  the  life  of  every 
soldier.    The  British  general,  having  completed  the  dis- 
position of  his  army,  attempted  to  obtain  possession  of 
fort  St«phenson  by  artifice.    He  sent  forward  a  flag  by 
colonel  /"?Uot,  whose  character  is  yet  in  the  memory  of 
every  reaaer,  accompanied  by  the  same  major  CharaberE 
who  had  before  demanded  the  surrentler  of  fort  Meigs. 
and  an  Indian  chief,  whose  enmity  to  the  Americans  was 
violent.     This  flag  was  met  at  a  few  paces  from  the 
garrison,  by  ensign  Shipp  of  the  17th,  to  whom  genera! 
Proctor*s  demand  of  an  immediate  and  unconditional  sur- 
render was  delivered,  and  from  whom  the  enemy  recei- 
ved major  Croghan's  answer,  of  a  determination  not  to 
yield,  but  with  the  loss  of  all  his  men.     Colonel  Elliot 
then  attempted  to  seduce  the  ensign  from  his  duty,  by 
"Various  artifices,  which  were  followed  by  a  threatened 
slaughter  of  the  garrison,  on  further  refusal  to  surrender. 
The  young  American  turned  from  his  apostate  countrj 
man,  Elliot,  v/ith  disgust,  and  was  immediately  seized 
upon  by  the  Indian  chief,  who  attempted  to  disarm  him. 
The  resistance  of  the  ensign,  and  the  interference  of  El- 
liot and  Chambers,  prevented  this  outrage,  and  major 
Croghan  being  apprehensive  about  the  safety,  of  his  offi- 
cer, instantly  ordered  him  to  be  called  into  the  garrison. 
The  enemy  then  opened  his  fire  from  the  gun  boats,  and 
a  five  and  an  half  inch  howitzer,  and  continued  the  can- 
nonade throughout  the  night.    On  the  morning  of  the  2d, 
three  sis  pounders  were  discovered  to  have  been  planted 


at  a  distance  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  the  stock- 
ade, and  in  a  few  minuteff  after,  an  OnBUccessful  fire  was 
opened  upon  the  fort.  The  British  general  feeling  his  ina- 
bility to  annoy  the  garrrison,  from  the  situation  in  which  his 
artillery  was  then  placed,  and  being  convinced,  that  h« 
could  neither  make  an  impression  upon  the  works,  nor 
ever  hope  to  carry  them  by  storm,  unless  a  breach  conid 
be  made  m  the  north-west  angle  of  the  fort,  ordered  all  Ir ^ 
guns  to  be  directed  at  that  point.    A  rapifl  fire  was  kept 
up  agamst  it  for  several  hours  ;  but  major  Croghan  being 
aware  of  his  design,  detached  as  many  men  as  could  be 
usefully  employed,  to  strengthen  that  angle :  by  means  of 
bags  of  sand,  of  flour,  and  other  articles,  it  was  effectually 
secured.     Under  a  supposition  that  his  tire  had  shattered 
the  stockade  work,  which  was  not  at  all  injured,  general 
Proctor  ordered  lieutenant  colonel  Short  to  lead  up  a 
close  column  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  regulars,  of  the 
41  St  regiment,  to  storm  the  fort  at  that  pojnt,  whilst  a  se- 
cond column  should  make  a  feint  upon  that  part  of  the 
American  line,  which  was  commanded  by  captain  Hun- 
ter, of  the  17th.     This  attempt  to  draw  the  attention  of 
the  garrison  from  the  north-west  angle  did  not  succeed. 
The  troops  posted  there  were  ordered  to  remain  firm ; 
and  when  the  column,  which  was  advancing  against  them' 
had  approached  within  twenty  paces  of  the  lines,  before 
which  time  it  was  so  completely  enveloped  in  smoke  as 
not  to  be  observed,  they  opened  a  heavy  and  galling  fire, 
which  threw  the  advancing  party  in  confusion,  and  inti- 
midated that  which  was  reserved  for  the  attack  on  the 
other  angle  of  the  fort.     The  British  battery,  which  was 
then  enlarged  by  two  other  six  pounders,  was  again  o.ien- 
ed,  and  sustained  the  advance  of  the  two  columns,  by  an 
mcebsant,  though  equally  unsuccessful  fire  as  the  former 
tolonel  Short  ra/Iying  his  men  with  great  alacrity  again 
led  them  up,  advanced  to  the  stockade,  and  sprinSne 
over  the  pickets  into  the  ditch,  commanded  the  whole 
column  to  follow,  and  assault  the  works  with  tlie  utmost 
diere"*^'        *^  ^'^^  '^^  quarter  to  any  of  the  American  aol- 

At  the  north-western  angle  stood  a  block  house,  ia 
wnich  a  six  pounder  had  been  heretofore  judiciously  con- 
cea  eU.  It  was  at  this  instant  opened,  and  having  previ- 
ously been  pointed  so  as  to  rake  in  that  situation,  a  dou- 


iMii 


n  ^- 


158 

life  charge  of  leaden  slugs,  was  fired  into  the  ditch,  and 
sweeping  the  whole  column,  th^  front  of  which  was  only 
thirty  feet  distant  from  the  piece,  killed  colonel  Short,  and 
almost  every  man  who  had  ventured  to  obey  his  order. 
A  volley  of  musquetry  was  fired  at  the  same  tinie,  and 
great  numbers  of  the  enemy,  who  had  not  yet  entered 
the  ditch,  were  severely  wounded.  The  officer  who  suc- 
ceeded colonel  Short  in  the  command  of  the  broken  co- 
lumn,  immediately  rallied  and  formed  it  anew,  and  led  it 
on  to  the  same  fatal  point,     A  second  fire  from  the  de- 
structive six  pounder,  was  poured  upon  it,  with  as  much 
success  as  the  first ;  and  the  small  arms  were  discharged 
so  briskly,  that  the  enemy's  troops  were  again  thrown 
into  confusion,  and  not  all  the  exertions  of  the  British 
officers  could  bring  them  up  to  another  assault.    They 
fled  precipitately  to  an  adjoining  wood,  and  were  very 
*»?on  folk    ?d  by  the  Indians.   In  a  few  minutes  the  firing 
entirely  id ;  and  an  army  much  more  than  ten  times 

superior  lu  a  small  garrison,  was  compelled  to  relinquish 
an  attack,  the  successful  issue  of  which  was  not  at  all 
doubted  by  any  one  of  its  officers, 

A  strong  degree  of  terror  prevailed  among  the  collect- 
ed forces.  Th«  Indians  were  enraged  and  mortified  at 
this  unparalleled  defeat;  and  carrying  their  dead  and 
wounded  from  the  field,  they  indignantly  followed  the 
British  regulars  to  the  shipping.  General  Procto-  aban- 
doned his  wounded,  and  left  the  dead  bodies  of  his  most 
distinguished  officers,  among  whom  was  colonel  Short,  in 
the  ditch.— During  the  night  of  the  2d,  major  Croghan 
received  as  many  of  the  wounded  enemy  through  the  port 
hole  as  were  able  to  approach  it,  and  to  those  who  could 
not,  he  threw  out  provisions  and  water. 

On  the  morning  of  the  3d,  the  gun  boats  and  transports 
sailed  down  the  bay,  and  guards  of  soldiers  were  imme- 
diately afterwards  sent  out  to  collect  and  bring  into  (he 
fort  all  the  wounded,  and  to  bury  the  enemy's  dead  with 
the  honours  to  which,  by  their  rank,  they  were  entitled. 
Seventy  stand  of  arms,  several  braces  of  pistols,  and  a  boat 
containing  Auch  clothing  and  military  stores,  which  had 
been  left  in  the  hurry  of  tlie  enemy's  flight,  were  then 
taken.  The  loss  of  the  assailants  was  reported  to  have 
been  not  less  than  one  hundred  and  fifty;  that  of  the  gar- 
rison was  one  killed,  and  seven  slightly  wounded. 


lie  ditcb,  and 
lich  was  only 
nel  Short,  and 
ley  his  order, 
me  tinie,  and 
t  yet  entered 
icer  who  sue- 
le  broken  co- 
jw,  and  led  it 
from  the  de- 
nrith  as  much 
'e  discharged 
again  thrown 
f  the  British 
5ault.    They 
id  were  very 
ites  the  firing 
tan  ten  times 
to  relinquish 
as  not  at  all 

I  the  collect- 
mortified  at 
ir  dead  and 
ibllowed  the 
'rocto"  aban- 
i  of  his  most 
nel  Short,  in 
jor  Croghan 
•ugh  the  port 
e  who  could 

id  transports 
were  imme- 
ring  into  the 
's  dead  with 
ere  entitled. 
s,  and  a  boat 
,  which  had 
;,  were  then 
:ted  to  have 
t  of  the  gar- 
ided. 


if 


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m,m  after  proniote.1  to  the  rank  of  H.-S    .''",''''""  '"" 
»«   .  ie»eiit«<l  will,  a  BwonHn.  til.   .'"""l  "=»'""«''«'"' 

•!»»?'.  weak  post,  fr,„„  mI^TuTL]^^,  ""'!'''*''''' 
•y !  and  gavo  a  nowcrftil  ohc  rk  (1  .hi  '.  "  ' '"'  "'"e- 

for  «.-•     mainine  .mrt  nf  fhL  **"■ ''''"  <>'  "Peralion., 

i..  chief,  who"e  Sf  IX!?'?'''"«";  '■''"'  """""""-le 
boy,  yielded  wH  rwarm«^     '  "'■"  r™'"™'  ">  '««- 
n.ende,I  to  the  cjy  S"ot  i7r.i""T'  """  '^"'n- 
youDR  soldier  of  twcn?v  „„!.  <lep»f<'nent  of  war,  s 

most  ingeniouslmrrulnre  fl'rifn'  "''"  ■""'  '•"«'^''  *« 
toed  hi,  various  r,ult  To?  l^-T''"""  "'«'  »"»■ 
minor  Croghan,  the  Mrriln  L  ?^^  "."'  *  ""'"'■  B"*!*" 
of  whom  .HstingidshfdXm.       *'"';,'  """"  """««".  "" 

Bnlish  column,  as  well  ««  „f  L^  ■  *'*'""' '«<">"«' 
Mason,  B.yle'r,  and  Meek"  of  thi"?;',^'-  ^'•^"•«"'«»<«' 
of  the  2ilh,  and  enslns  Shi  on  »„H  n  '•'  »'"'  '^""•««n 
were  stationed  at  dilfrrent  S,    ?  Pk""*""'  "^  "'o  "'h 

^"ilt«l  themselves  *;"^,i'ir„;:;,r,  '"'  """'""•  ""••  "«=■ 

»SLfl:'eTemy'towar  rrt'^r,""'"-''  "f  ""^ 
«t  orders  for  the  immS^  ',  ^'''t''""-'"",  than  he 

fifty  '"'"ntec",  f^m  Uptfsatr'L"'""";  """■""'  «"'' 
ness  all  the  infantry  at  Sen.^!.^^'  "'"'  I*"' '"  '•™'li- 
»"  Cass.  sS  wefeSX  f  "'""'?'',  "'^'"'"^ 
"o-l.e  the  position  ofTe  encmv  h„f  ™'"'^"''  '"  '"'o"- 
'hc  strong  disposition  ^f,h!^j   I'    i'  '"  """^'qu'^nce  of 

•;»e.to  a^proSrr;™"^,  ri,o',r '3  w^'  '"fl'^^'"  •"' 
Hamson  and  his  drn-oon?  I !;.»  t  *  "'^'  ■'^  S"""!"' 
fort  Stephenson.  H  ?e  thtfVe  eTn^P  1""™"  '*'""»  «'"' 
•■"'clor,  and  the  investment  ^  f  f  ,  ^  ■"=  ™*'"'y'  >""'«• 
"wc  iirst  heard  of  ad  the  J""  ^"l?"  ^^  '''«™>"s(f., 
7  Chss  to  fall  baJkt^Setcfaw/'r';',^''  "''-^^"'"' 
f  llie  siek,  and  the  provS,      ,    I  '  '^'".""'  fo'ection 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14S80 

(716)  872-4503 


^o      ^^^^ 


&^ 


160 

a  principal  part  of  the  crew  of  each  vessel  being  made  Up 
of  the  Pennsylvania  militia,  who  had  vohinteered  to  gj 
on  an  expedition,  eaikd  on  a  short  cruise,  for  the  purpose 
of  training  the  guns,  and  of  exercising  the  sailors.  In  the 
latter  part  of  August,  eommodore  Perry  proceeded  to  the 
mouth  of  Sandusky  river,  to  co-operate  with  general  Ha^ 
rison.  At  this  place  about  seventy  volunteer  marhies 
were  received  oh  board,  and  the  fleet  sailed  in  quest  of 
the  British  squadron.  The  hitter  Was,  at  that  time,  near 
Maiden,  before  which  place  commodore  Perry  appeared, 
and  after  reconnoitring  the  enemy,  he  retired  to  Putinr 
bayy  a  distance  of  thirty  mUes,  in  hopes  of  drawing  out 
his  antagonist.  ^  . 

On  the  morning  of  the  10th  of  September,  the  ene- 
my was  discovered,  bearing  down  upon  the  Amencah 
souftdron,  which  immediately  got  under  way,  and  sto«d 
out  to  meet  him.    The  superiority  of  force  was  greatly 
in  favour  of  the  British,  though  they  had  not  aa  ^qwl 
number  of  vessels.    Their  crews  were  larger,  and  the 
length  and  number  of  Uieir  guns  greater,  than  those  of  the 
American  squadron.    The  latte.-  consisted  of  the  bng 
Lawrence,  (flag  vessel)  of  20  guns  ;  the  Niagara,  captain 
Elliot   of  20;  the  Caledonia,  lieutenant  Turner,  of  3; 
the  schooner  Ariel,  of  4;  the  Scorpion,  of  2;  the  SOmers, 
6f  2,  and  2  swivels ;  the  sloop  Trippe,  and  schooners  Ti- 
ffress  and  Porcupme,  of  1  gun  each ;  niakng  a  fleet  of  8 
fesscls,  of  54  guns,  and  2  swivels.  The  British  squadroj 
consisted  of  the  ships  Detroit,  commodore  Barclay.  oflS 
cruns,  and  2  howitzers;  the  Queen  Charlotte,  captem  Fitt- 
Sis  of  n,  and  1  howitzer;  the  schooner  Lady  Prevost, 
Ueutenant  Buchan,  of  13,  and  1  howitzer ;  the  bng  Hub- 
ter  of  10;  the  sloo^LHtle  Belt,  of  3 ;  and  the  schooner 
Chippewa;  of  1,  and  2  swivels ;  making  a  fleet  of  6  ves- 
«els  and  63  guns,  4  howitzers,  and  2  swivels.  _ 

When  the  American  fleet  stood  oat,  the  Brifsh  fleet 
had  the  weathergage,  but  at  10  o'clck,  A.  M.  the  ^ 
«hSled  and  brought  the  Americaif  to  windward.  Ihe 
te  of  battle  was  formed  at  11 ;  and  at  15  nunutes  before 
12  the  enemy's  flag  sl#,  and  the  Queen  Charlotte,  open- 
ed upLthrLawrence  a  heavy  and  eifectual  fire,  wh.^ 
she  was  obliged  to  sustain  upwards  of  ten  minutes,  w.> 
out  a  possibility  of  returning  it,  in  consequencejf  h« 
batterj  bei»S  of  carronades.  She  nevertheless  conUnuefl 


161 


iO  bear  up/ and  having  given  a  eignal  for  (he  other  ves-  *. 
iel8  to  SBpporther,  at  a  few  minutes  before  12,  oivifaecl  : 
iKsr  fire  upon  the  enemy.    ITie  wind  being  too  light  to  ^ 
assist  the  remamder  of  the  squadron  in  coming  ud   the 
Lawrence  was  compelled  to  fight  the  enemy's  heaViest 
,  jcsssls  upwards  of  two  hours.    The  creW  were  not  at  al 
i??r  «  ^  ttieir  animatton  encreased,  as  the  desperation 
of  the  fi^t  became  greater,  and  the  guns  were  worked 

r  hJ'L'f  n?  Z^'"'^''  ?**  precision,  as  if  they  had  been 
«i  the  act  of  trammg  only.     The  slaughter  on  board  the 
ftng  was  almost  unparalleled,  the  rieginc  verv  much  in. 
jared,  and  the  bmces  entirei;  shot  ^  I^^a?^  S" 
after  every  gun  had  been  rendered  useless,  she  became 
^te  unmanageable.    The  first  lieutenant,^ agnail  Taa 
te.ce  wounded;  the  second  lieutenant,  ForWst,  struclTfn 
^breast .  the  gallant  lieutenant  BroqJ^es,  of  th^  maXs 
ajd  midshipman  Laub,  were  killed,  and  saSng^^ 
^laylor,  pur«er  Hamilton,  and  midshipmen  CteSnd 
Swartwout,  woupded.      Her  loss  already  amounted  to 
^^enty-two  Wiled,  and  sixty-one  wom^ded ;  when  the 
commodoi*,  seeing  that  she  must  veiy  soon  strike,  if  the 

ef  the  Lawrence  to  lieutenant  Yamall,  and  jumping  into 
a  boat,  ordered  it  to  be  steered  for  th  J  Niagara  to  wS 
tesseJ  he  had  determined  to  shift  his  fla|.  inpaB^^ 
from  the  Lawrence  to  the  Niagara,  he  stc^d  up,  wav  "f 

of  balls  and  bullets.    He  gained  the  Niagara  unhurt  at 
the  moment  the  flag  of  the  Lawrence  came  down  -and 
the  wind  having  at  that  instant  increased,  he  brought  her 
jto  action  and  at  46  minutes  past  two,  gave  signa   fol 
the  wliole  fleet  to  close.     All  the  vessels  were  fow  en 
gaged,  but  as  the  superiority  of  the  enemy  had  been  Z 
creased  by  the  loss  of  the  Lawrence,  thnommodore  de 
temnned  on  piercing  his  line  with  the  Niag^       He 
fterefore  resolutely  bore  up,  and  passing  S  of  the 
Deh-oit,  Queen  Charlotte,  and  Lady  Prefost   no:.L  ! 

ftnTi'nto^r?'^^^  '''  '"*^  each^f^n^  sTatS 
Si  »  **  *®  Chippewa  and  Little  Belt,  from  bin  lar^ 
c^t  L^^^r?"*^"  ^"»^'°  half  pistol  shot,  and  as  W 
rbrljr^^  '^'  "r '  ^^^  ««™'»^«def  of  the  Lady  Prevosl 
lof  fLtr  ""^^  ^"f  distinguished  himself  aUheba! 
"e  of  the  Nile,  received  a  musket  ball  in  his  fece,  and  the 


^r, 


162 


cfer  M^  iiii&t»Ie  |o  »taBd  the  fii«»  iiAp«^Mito|f  mhl  b«i^ 
low.  At  this  moment  tlie  Galedkmia  wss  stmi^Gitg  (q 
get  closer  iiito  ihe  action,  and  her  ocuttiiiiaider,  li€|itenci»t 
Turner,  ordered  her  guos  to^be  fired  tl^f^^i}l0  fQres^^ 
whichUiterfered  between  him  and  the  eneaijjPsi'aih^  that 
lose'^lhe  charice  (^' a  fall  share  in  Ihe  combl^t.and  W19 
only  previented  Irom  att^p^tmi  ^  board  the  DetrcNil^ 
by  the  prudent  refusal  of  the  officer  el  aiuntiier  small  vet- 
set, ^assist  tiiiKi. 

The  action  was  ttow  ra^g  with  its  utmost  vlo£eiHHi|^ 
erery  broadaijde  fired  With  the  most  exact  jpfedsiMi,  aa^l 
the  result  of  the  conflict  altogether  9nc#i&|i.    In  ad# 
ticin  to  the  loss  of  tiie  Lawrence's  guns^ipdl^  of  4h§  ^^mNIi 
had  burst,  and  the  enemy  had  then  JOfe  aupeiiowfy^i^ 
thirty-fbutf:  guns.    This  dpnbtful  aspeeti,  how»VQr>  s^' 
aft#^hluxged.  The^QutenCharMte  hitdlost  hetcaptflii 
and%^  heir  principal  officers ;  fthd  faairingiby  6ome>in||> 
cfaatiiee,  run  foul  of  the  Dfeti^  most  of  |he  guns  of  ]^|||| 
Teseels  l)eeame  useless.      In  this  siti^oni  adiriait^^ 
of  whidh  was  imme^aie^y  taken  by  eo$0axvifm^  ^^^ 
they  were  compelled  to  suAtaiBy  in  turn^  jk0  i]H{£^^  |f| 
from  the  Niagaia,  an^  other  yese^ls  <klli!ls0).''iim^fV!m 
squadron.    The  Briti^  commode's  fi%Wf»«Oon 
struck,  and  those  o^'#^  Qiueen  Chikrlotte;^  l^dy 
Tost,  the  Hunter  and  the  Chippewa,  came  down  hi  i| 
diate  succession.  OThe  whole  fleet  surrenderee!  to 
ferior  squadi'on,  with  the  exception  of  the  Li^  Bii 
which  attempted  to  escape,  but  was  pursued  by  W0^:. 
the  gun  boats,  and  captured  at  a  distance  of  three  uilP' 
from  the  squadron. 

Thus,  after  an  action  of  three  hours,  in  whiqh  the  iadi- 
yidual  gallantry  of  either  fleet,  had  never  been  surpass- 
ed by  any  naval  event  now  to  be  found  on  the  record  of 
history,  was  the  entire  command  of  this  important  lake, 
yielded  lo  the  American  arms.  To  the  future  operations 
of  the  m>rth  western  army,  every  prospect  of  success 
was  thrown  open,  and  the  recovery  of  the  lost  terri- 
tory became  no  longer  doubtful.  Commodore  Perry  in- 
formed his  goverpment,  that  it  had  ^^  pkased  the  Almighty 
to  crown  their  arms  with  success"  and  attributed  the  issue 
to  the  gallant  conduct  of  his  officers,  his  men,  and  the  vo- 
lunteers on  board.  Among  them,  are  to  be  found  tlie 
names  of  captain  Elliot,  lieutenants  Turner,  Edwards  and 


k  was  sifii|||;liitg  lo 
inikiideF,  lientencitl 

^mmfif&ihex  thai 
B  conal^,  Biid  w»0 
bofffd  ^  Detn% 

}  uimoBt  ▼! 
ami 
noir^li.    In 

[>f  the  gmis  of  ^11 
iti^ition,  BdwaaiAa0' 

me  dowfila  ii 
rrenderecl  Iq 
of  the  Um  B^ 
pursued  by  tw^^ 
aace  of  tJbree  nikf 

!,  in  whiqh  the  iodi- 
lever  been  surpass- 
ud  on  the  record  of 
his  important  lake, 
le  future  operations 
»ro3pect  of  success 
Y  of  the  lost  tern- 
mmodore  Perry  in- 
tkased  the  AlmigMy 
attributed  the  isaue 
lis  men,  and  the  vo- 
ire to  be  found  the 
iirner,  Edwards  and 


T 


Olivier  il  Pkrky  ksq. 


BHi^m 


•'il 


» 


i  M 


I 


« 


i.*^ 


*# 


f-. 


Clark  #0|raimiii5--<*fite  conductor  WlikiLte^^^^^^ 
liMiaiii^wofef8,iuidpiii»^Ha«^        the  latter  of  whom 

is.  f^J^!^**"*  wlmrratlan  of  the  whol]i  squii^oiii  as 
weU  as  that  of  the  en«inf.  '^^^*™"»"* 

uS^J?'5^*'.  Commodore  B.rehj'  mn  wouUnI 

bd  b««  (hot  oir  to  a  former  aetioii.  The  lo«>  on  (ra^rd 
to «|i»dnm«icee«ted  two  hundred.  TheAmertcmfc™ 

«i.    Ihe  captured  veBsel*  were  conToyed  to  the  bav  of 
Sandusky  j^  Kg  the  prisoutre,  six  hundred  in  auXr 
^^  u^f'  ^»^^°«  '^''^^  were  a  fewt^': 
TZ^^lS"^^^  ^ist  regim^t,  who  had  been  taken 
00  Hoard  to^iet  ta  marines. 

-  The  result  ol  this  biSiliant  «iitoffiet,  was  immediatelir 
fonc^dbr^tive  ami extensir«  prepi^^TK^ 
pul«^  Of  tM  enemy  from  Detroit,  flte  entire  suWogatioir 
of  Mald«,  «id  the  overthrow  of  general  Proctor'fSmT 

»nd  6t  Lawrence,  would  be  rapidly  facHitated  nna  ffcl 
mo«t  plaus^ft.  p„,spects  heldou?to^'£^i^^^^^ 

IrlTnHS^^"^'  ^^'^Sl^*^  made  a^SS>tt^^^ 
Wiaof  Ohio,  as  soon  as  he  was  informed  onhes^ir 

S  Te7r.w''^'^^5  ""^"'  *"««•  ^»»y  of  these  wjre 
Bot  yet  discharged,  and  general  Harrison  now  reouired 

J  proportion  of  ihem.    At  the  mouth  of  Polgl^ri^r 

td'Stf tw«'*  'fn  r'"!«/"^^  «»'«"'«*  be  Zcent«: 
»«,  and  between  that  point  and  Sandusky  bay  he  cau- 

wIhT  Ji^]*'*««*^*  The  governor  of  Kentucky  Isaac 

^untlf  T£i'™^t'  "^  *5  fo«r  thousand  well  mounted^ 
S-risS*  bT  fT"**'  ^^^^^'^  ^^S^  being  reduced,  arid 
SZtr.^f^iZT^'F'''^^  ^^»'*»«''  "'arched 
»r  £r«w\^''  ^!?^*^'  '^^  J^^°«^  the  main  body 
^»Ladk^  t^i^^^^^^^^V^"^^^  »«"^«^°  determined 
Clfo^ piAvf?^  ''^?*^'*^>.«°«  «*  tN  dawn  of  the 
riS  anSl^^f  ^'*  ^^^t'  to  embark  at  t^  mouth  of  the 
'»»er,and  to  rendezvous  at  the  Oifferent  islands,  which 

P2 


U4 


i 


■'  11 


^NP^ 


iiy  in  clusters  between  MaldeO)  and  the  point  of  embi» 
kation.  To  Qolonel  Johnson,  who  commanded  a  Keor 
tucky  mounted  regiment  at  fort  Meig»,  he  gave  orders  to 
proceed  to  Detroit  by  land;  arrangements  having  beea 
Srst  made,  by  which  that  officer  and  the  commander  in 
chief,  were  to  be  informed  of  each  other's  progress,  l)f 
daily  expresses. 

On  the  27th,  the  troops  were  received  on  board  tbs 
fleet,  now  enlarged  by  the  captured  vessels.  They  were 
embarked  at  a  small  ishmd,  about  twenty  miles  from  Ma)f 
den,  called  the  Eastern  Sister,  and  one  <^  two  islands  t<i 
which  the  names  of  the  Sisters  had  been  giveis.  In  tlic 
afternoon  of  the  same  day,  the  fleet,  which  was  compo' 
Bed  of  sixteen  vessels  of  war,  and  upwards  or  one  hundred 
boats,  arrived  at  a  point  three  miles  belnw  Maiden.  Here 
the  troops  were  landed,  in  good  order,  and  with  perfect 
silence,  and  proceeded  thence  to  Amhertsburg  by  eschel- 
Ion  movements. 

The,3ritiish  general,  well  aware  that  the  Amcricao 
OommMider  y,  luld  early  avail  himself  of  the  advantages 
lately  gained  by  the  capture  of  the  fl^t,  had  made 
preparations  to  retire  into  the  interior  of  Canada,  to  a 
place  of  better  security  than  Maiden.  He  was  apprised 
by  his  videttes,  of  the  approach  of  general  Harrison,  and 
having  first  set  fire  to  the  fort,  and  destroyed  cvety  arti* 
cle  of  public  property,  he  ordered  hia  forces,  which  were 
still  composed  of  British  regulars,  and  Tecumseh's  and 
Dixon*s  Indians,  to  retreat  toward  the  Thames,  and  thence 
along  its  course  to  the  Moravian  towns.  The  fort,  the 
barracks,  and  other  public  buildings,  were  still  smoking, 
when  the  American  army  entered  Amhertsburg,  and  a 
number  of  females  came  out  to  implore  protection  from 
its  commander.  They  received  it.-^The  guns  of  the  bat- 
teties  had  been  previously  sunk,  one  only  remained  oa 
an  island  opposite  Maiden,  and  that  had  been  left  in  tbe 
confusion  of  the  enemy's  retreat  to  the  Thames. 

Amhertsburg  had  heretofore  been  the  repository  of  Ib* 
dian  spoil,  and  the  principal  depot  of  Indian  pre»entt. 
The  tribes  had  been  continually  provided  with  munitions 
of  war,  from  the  garrison  there ;  and  rewarded  at  that 
post,  for  the  outrages  committed  by  them,  at  various 
times,  upon  the  people  of  the  adjoinhig  American  territo- 
ries. The  pluvious  sufierings  of  the  citizens  of  the  fr<ii' 
thr,  bad  all  been  derived  from  the  activity  of  British  trtf- 


•  110 

dert^  wna  wtra  i^iopfieton  of  th«  proMtty  md  gottt  ml 
ttongh  Ahiioit  eyery  yotuntoe,  «f  (be  Americtn  army  hS 
been  affee^d,  eilher  in  his  poit«sih>i»,  in  W.own %«! 
ion,  or  in^Uitt  of  hit  relaiim,  by  (be  ineurdons  a«d  IZ 
ligef  f  jhe  •nemy,  the  inhabit^Ki  of  AmhertMwrg  wen 
irotecied  firom  violence,  tnd  (heir  individual  nreoertv  ho- 
Boorably  respected.  Highfr,  tnd  freqoenUy,  S^tfie  i» 
tfpatton  of  these  troops  bad  been  excited^,  (hey  wer« 
ijll  detcrniined  to  contrast  their  conduct  here,  with  that 
jf  the  Bntish  and  ladians,  at  the  river  Raisin;  and.  the 
koose  and  grounds,  therefore,  of  the  roost  active  officer 
It  Jiat  scene,  eolonet  Eiiiott,  suffered  not  the  least  molea» 
lltion. 

On  the  a8th,the  army  crossed  La  Riviire  am  Cannards, 
the  bridge  over  which  the  enemy  had  not  stopped  to  de- 
rfroy,  and  arrived  at  Sandwicli  on  the  following  day.  the 
fleet  moving  at  (he  same  time,  tiirough  the  river  Detroit, 
to  that  place  Governor  Shelby's  command  thenoccul 
pied  the  pomt  at  which  the  iirst  invasion  of  Canada  had 
been  attempted,  whilst  the  remainder  of  the  army  crossed 
oyer  to  the  delivery  of  the  town  of  Detroit,  out  of  the  pos* 
SMBion  of  the  British  Indians,  who  immedlateJy  abandon* 
ed  the  garnson,  and  retreated  in  dilTerent  directions.  Ge- 
neiiil  Harrison,  knowing  that  large  numbers  of  warriors, 
iinder  Spl  t-Log,  were  collecting  in  the  woods  near  Hu- 
lOBof  Lake  fit  Clair,  directed  general  M'Arthur  to  re- 
Buun  with  most  of  the  regulars,  in  the  occupation  of  De- 

i:    mu    **®  ^^"*^  P""^"®  **»«  ^"^y  of  general  Proctof 
ttp  the  Thames. 

Colonel  R.  M.  Johnson's  regiment  had  arrived  at  De- 
troit on  the  day  after  its  occupation  by  the  American  ar- 
my,  and  havmg  concentrated  this  force,  with  a  part  of 
eolonel  Ball's  regiment  of  dragoons,  and  the  whole  of  go- 
jemor  Shdby»s  vohinteers,  (he  commander  in  chief,  on 
a!  ?ly^^^^^^y  pursued  the  enemy's  route,  ^uch  was 
we  rapidity  of  his  movement,  that  he  encamp.id  in  the 
mniDg  of  the  same  day,  at  the  river  Riscum,  a  distance 
•r  twenty-six  miles  from  Sandwich.  Early  on  the  mom. 
mgof  the  3d,  he  resumed  his  march,  and  b«ngaccom- 
l»nied  by  general  Cass  and  commodore  Perry,  as  acting 
•Ws^he  proceeded  in  the  advance  with  Johnson's  reg? 
wert,  m  order  to  secure  the  bridges  on  the  rivers  tribor 
m  to  Lake  St  Clair.   By  the  capture  of  a  hentenant  of 


^ 


166 


.• 


I    1 


:i.' 


% 


dmgooRS  and  eleven  priTates,  who  had  been  left  in  gene. 
ral  Proctor'i  rear,  with  orders  to  take  up  every  bridge  by 
which  the  approach  of  Harrison's  army  could  possibly  be 
facilitated,  one  bridge  was  saved,  and  the  Americfui  ge- 
neral learned,  that  the  enemy  had  no  "  certain  information 
of  his  advances  up  the  Thames."  Within  eight  ipileg  of 
this  river,  at  Drake's  farm,  the  army  encamped  for  tiie 
night,  and  its  baggage  followed  thus  for,  \n  the  transporti 
of  the  squadron^ 

On  the  morning  of  the  4th,  the  army  again  proceeded 
on  its  route,  and  having  reached  Chatham,  seventeeD 
miles  fVom  Lake  St.  Clair,  found  its  progress  obstruct- 
ed by  a  deep  and  unfordable  creek,  the  bridge  of  which 
had  been  partially  destroyed  by  a  body  of  Indians,  *vho 
now   made  their  appearance,  and  fired  on  the  front 
guard.    They  had  taken  position  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  creek,  and  flan!  -d  the  American  army  on  the  right 
bank  of  the  river.    General  Harrison  made  immediate 
arrangements  to  disperse  or  capture   them.      Colonel 
Johnson  was  already  stationed  on  the  right  of  the  line, 
and  had  seized  the  rifins  of  another  bridge,  under  a  smart 
fire  from  the  Indians  on  that  flank.    Major  Wood  was 
directed  to  bring  up  his  artillery,  and  cover  the  pioreers 
who  were  repairing  the  first  bridge.  This  he  did  witi;  un- 
expected success.    The  Indians  could  not  withstand  the 
heavy  discharges  of  artillery,  and  they  therefore  retired 
without  much  regard  to  the  order  of  their  retreat.    The 
bridge  was  quickly  repaired,  and  the  army  having  first  ex- 
tinguished the  flames  of  a  farm  house,  which  had  been  fired 
by  the  Indians,  and  captured  from  it  two  thousand  stand 
of  arms  and  a  quantity  of  clothing,  crossed  over  the  creeir, 
pursued  the  enemy  four  miles  up  the  river,  annoyed  hi» 
rearguard,  and  took  from  him  several  pieces  of  cannon» 
This  skirmish  continued  one  hour,  in  which  time  two  men 
of  the  army  were  killed,  and  six  wounded;  whilst  thirteen 
were  killed  on  the  side  of  the  enemy.   Besides  muskets, 
cannon,  and  clothing,  he  lost  three  vessels,  loaded  with 
ordnance  stores  an<l  arms,  which  the  approach  of  the  Ame- 
ricans obliged  him  to  destroy. 

On  the  6th,  the  pursuit  was  eagerly  renewed,  and  at- 
tended by  the  capture  of  two  gun-boats  and  several  bar- 
ges, loaded  with  provisions  and  ammunition.  Having  at- 
tainted the  ground  on  which  the  enetay  had  encamped  Hiif 


sight  l)«fore,  the  •ommAiider  in  chief  diwcicd  eoiotid 
Johnson  to  haften  ttie  morch  of  his  advance  guard,  and  to 
lend  forward  an  officer  to  reconnoitre  the  situ  ttioiiof  Ui« 
eombined  BriUsh  and  Indian  forces.  This  officer  veiy 
Boon  alter,  returned  with  intelligence  that  the  enemy  wew 
prepared  for  action,  in  an  open  ground,  within  four  milet 
of  the  American  main  body.  The  road  upon  which  ge* 
ieral  HarrMon  was  then  marching,  entered  a  thick  and 
eilenaive  forest,  on  the  beach.  A  sliort  distance  from  th«v 
btnk  of  the  Thames,  was  a  miry  swamp,  which  extended 
to  the  Moravian  Towti  ;  and,  between  this  swamp  and  th* 
wyer  was  a  level  plain,  through  which,  because  of  thre 
thick  underwood  in  the  forest,  the  army  would  be  obliged 
to  make  it  approaches.  Across  this  plain,  the  British  Iva^ 
was  drawn  up,  with  its  left  resting  nn  the  river,  supported 
by  the  greatest  proportion  of  then-  artillery ;  its  centre  be- 
ing protected  hy  two  heavy  pieces,  and  ii«  strength,  ia 
Mgulars,  amounting  to  six  hundred.  Twelve  hundred  In- 
4i8ns  were  formed  along  the  margin  of  the  swamp. 

When  general  Harriaon  had  come  up  with  the  mai« 
My,  and  was  advised  of  the  advantageous  situadon  of  the 
enemy,  he  oedered  colonel  Paul,  with  one  hundred  and 
fifty  regulars,  to  occupy  a  space  lietween  the  road  and 
tlie  nver ;  to  advance  upon,  and  divert  the  enemy,  and 
oa  an  opportunity,  to  seize  the  cannon  which  defended 
lis  left  flank.  Lieutenant  colonel  James  Johnson  was  di- 
rected to  form  major  Payne's  battahon  of  the  mountod 
regiment,  and  major  Suggett's  three  spy  corap/anies,  into 
MX  cbargmg  columns,  immediately  in  front  of  the  Brftiih 
line  of  regulars  and  an  Indian  flank ;  whilst  general  Hett- 
ny  8  division  of  infantry,  should  be  stationed  for  bis  aim- 
port,  in  his  rear.    Colonel  R.  M.  Johnson  was  charged 
witb  the  formation  of  another  battalion,  in  front  of  the  In- 
oians,  who  were  art-ayed  on  the  margin  of  the  swamp.  He 
wcordii^ly  dismounted  one  company,  under  command  of 
captein  Stueker,  with  which  he  stretched  a  line  in  the  face 
M  the  Indians,  and  ordered  major  Thompson  to  form  th« 
remaining  four  companies,  on  horseback,  into  two  chares 
jpg  columns  of  double  files,  immediately  in  the  rear  of  the 
line  on  foot.    The  left  of  this  battalion  was  supoorted  by 
weinfantry  of  general  Desha. 

Thus  disposed,  with  the  main  s>rmy  in  their  rear,  these 
IwsioBs  moved  forward  to  the  attack.  The  BrUish  gave 


i>f,  •>  hi. 


0 


1«8  k 

the  fini  (Ire,  upon  which  th<!  charge  was  quickly  (H^ered 
uid  in  R  few  moments  Uie  enemy's  line  wm  pierced  by 
upwards  of  one  thousand  horsemen,  who,  dashing  through 
the  Dritish  regulars  with  irresistible  ofieed,  either  trampled 
under  foot,  or  cut  doivn  every  soldier  who  opposed  theih; 
and  having  killed  wad  wounded  upwards  of  fifty  at  one 
charge,  instantly  formed  in  their  rear,  and  repeated  the  at< 
tack.  Such  was  the  panic  which  pervaded  the  whole  lift 
of  the  enemy,  that  an  order  which  had  been  issued  to  flu 
bayonet,  was  not  attempted  to  be  executed ;  and,  in  a  lit- 
tle while,  colonels  Evans,  Warburton  and  Baubee,  and 
majors  Muir  and  Cliurabers,  surrendered  with  four  hundred 
and  seventy-two  prisoners.  The  charge  had  no  sooner 
been  made,  than  general  Proctbr,  fearing  (he  consequences 
of  his  conduct  In  Michigan,  if  he  should  be  taken  ia  thii 
battle,  abandoned  his  command,  and  made  his  escape  ii 
•  ca.nage,  under  a  strong  escort  of  dragoons. 

Whilst  this  brilliant  charge  was  making  on  the  right,  (hi 
action  was  raging  with  great  violence  on  the  left.  Be* 
tween  the  Indians  there,  and  the  mounted  men  and  infaii' 
try  drawn  up  against  them,  it  was  longer  and  more  obsth 
nately  contended.  The  Indians  were  commanded  bj 
Tecumseh,  who  fought  with  more  than  his  accustomed 
skill,  and  having  posted  his  warriors  in  the  best  posnble 
rituations  to  repulse  an  attack,  he  indicated  his  willing' 
ness  to  receive  the  assault  of  the  American  cavalry.  Co* 
lonel  Johnson,  who  saw  that  the  Indians  would  dispute  the 
ground  with  more  bravery  than  the  British  regulars,  pla- 
ced himself  at  the  head  of  his  battalion,  and  led  it  up  to  a 
vigorous  charge  upon  Tecumseh's  flank.  That  chief  at 
the  same  moment  dealt  out  a  tremendous  fire,  which 
though  severe  in  its  effect,  did  not  retard  the  movement 
of  the  advancing  columns.  But  the  difficulty  of  penetra- 
ting the  thicket  and  swamp,  threw  an  impediment  in  the 
way  of  a  successful  result  to  an  onset  with  dragoons,  and 
the  attempt  to  break  the  Indian  line,  in  consequence,  fail- 
ed. An  engagement  immediately  took  place,  however, 
in  which,  after  exchanging  several  rounds  with  Tecum- 
seh's  band,  colonel  Johnson  ordered  both  his  columns  to 
dismount,  and  leading  them  up  a  second  time,  he  made  9 
desperate,  but  successful  effort  to  break  through  the  In- 
dians. Having  gained  the  rear  of  their  line,  his  next  or- 
der directed  his  men  to  fight  them  in  their  own  mode. 


the  contest  b«oaine  now  more  obstinate.  Notwltlwtand- 
«M5  their  line  had  been  thus  pierced,  «„d  their  warrioni 
were  falling  in  considerable  numbers,  the  Indians  did  not 
ttink  themselves  yet  discomfited,  and  quickly  coIlectLg 
their  pnncipal  strength  upon  the  right,  they  made  an  af 
tempt  to  penetrate  the  Une  of  In&ntiy  under  general  oi 
M.  In  this  they  had  partially  succeeded,  a  part  of  thft 
Bw  havmg  faltered,  when  governor  Shelby  brousht  ud 
Aree  compames  of  bis  volunteers  to  its  support,  and  in 
(am  threw  back  the  Indians.  . 

MeanwUUe  colonel  R.  M.  Johnson  had  been  five  times 
woanded,  and  m  tiiat  state,  covered  with  blood,  and  ex- 
nausted  by  pain  and. fatigue,  he  personally  encountered 
Tecumseh.  The  colonel  was  mounted  on  a  white  chT" 
ger,  at  which,  being  a  conspicuous  object,  the  Indians 
had  continually  levelled  their  fire.  A  shower  of  bullets  had 
fallen  round  him;  his  holsters,  his  clothes,  and  most  of  hi. 
accoutrements,  were  pierced  in  several  places;  and  at  the 
iDstant  when  he  discovered  Tecumseh,  his  horse  received 
a  second  wound.  Tecumseh,  having  discharged  his  rifle, 
sprang  forward  with  his  tom-hawk,  and  had  it  already 
raised  to  throw,  when  colonel  Johnson's  horse  stageered 
back,  and  inimediately  the  colonel  drew  forth  a  pistoLhot 
the  Indian  tiirough  the  head,  and  both  fell  to  the  griund. 

The  wounded  colonel  being  then  removed  from  the 
field,  the  command  of  that  battalion  devolved  on  maior 
Thompson,  who  continued  to  fight  the  whole  body  of  the 
Indians,  (then  upwards  of  one  thousand)  more  than  an 
hour,  and  eventually  put  them  to  flight.  In  their  attempt 
to  ^m  the  village,  through  the  level  plain,  they  were  pur- 
wwl,  and  numbers  of  them  cut  down  by  the  cavalry. 

Ihe  Amencans  being  now  masters  of  the  field,  their 
galant  commander,  who  had  been  in  every  part  of  the 
acuon,  directed  the  wounded  officers  and  men  of  both  ar- 
mies, to  be  taken  care  of,  and  the  trophies  of  the  victory 
to  be  collected  and  conveyed  to  the  squadron.  Among 
*ege,  were  several  pieces  of  brass  cannon,  which  had 
been  taken  from  Burgoyne,  at  Saiatoga,  in  tiie  struggle 

Colonel  Johnson  survived  his  wounfTs,  and  yet  renreient* 
tl»c  state  of  Kentucky  in  the  national  l.gislature:      '*P''**"*» 


Iff 


y  f  -<■■ 


M    i   ■  ■ 


•!' 


for  *}m  indep«ndene4!»  of  the  states,  and  ourrendered  again 
by  general  ^uU,  thiriy-flve  yfisrs  nflerwarde,  at  Detroit. 

In  the  battle  of  the  Thames,  tlie  nuimber  of  Americans 
•Bgi^dd  did  not  exceed  fourteen  hundred.  The  na^u.«« 
sf  the  ground,  rendered  an  operation  by  the  whole  force 
iHipracticable,  and  the  main  bcdy,  th^reifore,  formed  s 
^orps  of  reserve.  Thsy  sustained  a  less  of  fifty  men,  is 
kiUed  and  wounded.  The  number  of  the  former,  among 
who^a  was  a  brave  old  soldier  of  tlie  revolution,  colonel 
Whitley,  who  now  served  as  a  volunteer  private,  in  a 
Kentucky  reghnent,  amounted  to  seventeen.  The  ene* 
my  tost  iu  regulars  alone,  upwards  of  mnety  killed,  and 
ahiout  tlie  same  number  wounded,  and  siirrenderod  in  ail 
six  hundred  prisoners.  Among  the  Indians,  one  hundrci 
luad  twenty  were  killed,  including  their  brave^  but  ambi- 
tious and  inveterate  leader.  v*J 

A  sqiiadron  of  horse,  which  had  been  oi^ered  in  pur- 
suit  of  Proctor,  Immediately  after  his  flight,  retunied  to 
general  Harrison  with  the  baggage  and  private  papers  of 
Uie  British  commander,  which  thoy  had  taken  within  one 
hundred  yards  of  his  escort  By  Uie  speed  of  his  hors6», 
and  his  knowledge  of  the  country,  he  successfully  eluded 
his  puri»uers. 

The  result  of  tljls  victory  was  highly  advantageous,  not 
only  to  the  operations  of  the  army  belov/,  but  to  all  the 
nortli-western  territoriea.  Some  of  whose  inhabitants 
were  released  from  the  restraint  of  a  conquered  people, 
and  had  now  a  favourable  prospect  of  future  tranquillity. 
By  this  event,  the  whole  British  force  in  that  part  of  Ca- 
nada, was  destroyed ;  the  association,  with  each  other,  of 
Iho  different  tribes  hostile  to  the  United  Stales,  prevent- 
ed 'j  and  their  re-union  with  tlie  enemy  entirely  cut  off. 
S>y  the  fall  of  the  Shawanoe  clief,  the  Americans  wore 
disencumbered  of  their  most  powerful,  inveterate  and  ex- 
perienced Indian  enemy ;  and  a  sudden  check,  was  given 
to  mat  spirit  of  bai'barian  enterprize,  to  which  that  fron- 
tier had  hitherto  been  subject.  'J'ecumseh  was  a  bold, 
int.'epid  and  acUve  leader,  whose  undeviating  practice  it 
was  never  to  tnake  a  prisoner.  He  was  ever  ready  to 
conceive  a  daring  and  inhuman  design,  and  would  exe- 
cute it  with  unprecedented  and  remorseless  perseverance. 

Hj_  _..ii : -- ji-_  __i  -     -1    _         1 ••  ••    I'  p iU- 

in  imiiU'^  pnssiun  ««'£is  ine  ptUniiv.!  aUQ  EiiiiiiiiiciuOn  Ol  Jnc 

people,  whom  he  believed  hs^d  encroached  upon,  and  gra- 


in 

•luRlly  flflprSFcd  his  ancestry  of  their  soil     Hut  v^u.^  i 
undertook  «n  expedition,  uccoZ«T,ied  bv  !,t\!^h  "  S^ 
would  relinquish  to  them  11^^011  ?ii?.  1,7        ^".''*^'  *** 
yieUl  the  p;?vilege  oY^slll^Xtt^^^^^  ^^.^'^^^ 
diaus  of  a    other  tribcfl  iih  w-ii  «.V*k  .  '  "**-  *"" 

lie  was  born.  U,«  W  ^'leX  k"  Tecumiril^  "H™ 

ilic  ofore  irreparable.  8uch,  in.lecd,  was  lh«  effect  ofW^ 

government  fro,„  the  neccssily  of 'eub  Jlng'S'lSi! 
On  the  day  following  that  on  whirh  ih^  hoHi«  «/•  lu 

received,  flag  from  gceral  Toc^'^X,  a^.^'jf 
request,  U.at  humane  trealmenl  migl.t'be  exTcK  L  fhe 
Bribsh  pnaoners  This  ,eque,t  had  been  anSated  b^ 
the  American  general,  who  had  already  given  oith..lir 
plocomforts  of  his  own  lent,  U,  the  wouS  B^r/Seh  c"' 
onels ;  and  had  instructed  hi»  troops  before  the  ClH^ 
toUhe  person  even  of  general  Procllr  should  be  res'e't  * 

At  Detroit,  go-vemor  Shelby's  volunteers  aiul  «!,. 
Wve  ™,.lhs-  men,  were  all\o„o~"d'isch,  *d 
JJ^  I  rlr  f  ™<"'«''  "y  one  thousand  men,  unS: 
Tl?^'  "^  .r'  W»'"M  provisional  goveraor^of 
ae  Michigan  territory;  and  the  civil  jaw  was  restored  tr. 
the  condition  in  which  it  was  at  the  «me  when^n  P™r 

Jmle'rir.T'  fi,'"f  r'"''  "S«inst  Proctor,  the  com- 
men    tV?„-    .'i!^'"''.,''*™  '^'"^"^^^  by  the  war  depart- 

-pocfa'&'e'S\^";^^*--rT5T^^^^^^ 

j^oaober  he  embarked  In'lho  squ^S^nrf  LakTE^fe 
!!»  ,1  '"»  Ji'POsables,  and  sailed  for  the  village  of  Buff!' 
H  "'here  he  arrived  before  the  beginning  X«mb«: 


m 


W 


HR 

titBJM 

^^ 

■pi 

fi 


I|: 


ii 


W  i 


CHAPTER  XIL 

Plan  of  operations  on  the  St.  Lawrence — Concentration  of 
the  forces  on  Grenadier  Island — British  abandon  the  in- 
restment  of  Fort  George— Descent  of  the  St.  Lawrence-^ 
Skirmishes  in  its  course — Battle  of  Chrystler's  field— 
The  left  ning  of  the  Northern  army  retires  to  winter 
quarters — The  right  wing  marches  through  the  Chataur 
guy  woods — Is  attacked  by  the  British — Engages  and 
reputes  them — Goes  also  into  .winter  quarters — The 
Americans  evacuate  Fort  George,  and  destroy  Newark- 
Surrender  of  Fort  Niagara — Destruction  ofLewistown 
and  Buffaloe. 

CORRESPONDENT  with  these  movements  of  the 
north-western  army,  a  plan  of  operations  on  the  St.  Law- 
rence had  been  concerted  by  the  united  talents  of  the  war 
department,  which  had  been  transferred  to  the  frontier, 
and  general  Wilkinson,  who,  having  succeeded  to  the 
command  of  the  army  of  the  north,  had  established  his 
head  quarters  at  fort  George.     By  this  plan,  the  capture 
and  occupation  of  Montreal  and  Kingston,  the  grand  ren- 
dezvous of  the  British  land  forces,  and  the  only  secure 
harbour  for  their  naval  armaments,  was  contAnplated  ; 
and  the  result,  of  its  successful  execution,  could  not  fail  of 
being  fruitful  with  advantages  to  the  future  movements 
of  the  anny,  and  the  contemplated  conquest  of  the  pro- 
vince of  Lower  Canada.     The  late  overthrow  of  general 
Proctor,  in  the  upper  province,  increased  the  expecta- 
tions of  the  department  and  thfe  army,  and  held  out  to 
each,  the  most  certain  prospects  of  eventual  success. 
Two  obstacles,  however,  presented  themselves  to  the  en- 
tire fulfilment  of  these  expectations.  The  lateness  of  the 
season ;  which,  in  a  countiy  where  the  i^inter  commences 
with  CTeat  severity,  would  raise  up  insurmountable  olh 
structions  to  the  movements  of  the  troops  :  and  the  dif- 
ference of  opinion  betwe  en  the  commanding  general  and 


173 

objert  (A  assault    Eacfi^  being  tenacious  of  his  own  ooi- 

ZX:me'^^r  '"  "^^  «<>°«"°"»ation  ofXe  X 
ceried  pclieme,  it  became  necessary  to  hasten  the  im- 

K  dettS  '^  ^  ^f  r  ^"  ^^  one'":thrr. 
IJie  aeUberation  of  a  council  of  war  was  proposed     To 

obviate  the  first  difficulty,  the  remoTBl  of  the  se  ond  wae 
Hidispensible,  and  the  necessity  of  an  immediate  deriXt 
l^on  a  question  involving  the  interXf  the  ex^ 
itdTndT**  ^•^•^""'L    A  council  was  therefor^eogaS: 

^i^'ed  on  «     'T^  ***^*  '^^  ^"^^«««  ^f  'he  designfdl 
pended  on  au  early  movement  of  the  designated  force 

•enl^h^'^ff  '  "^f'^  *^^"  ^^^P*«^'  t«  collect  and  cdn- 
centre  the  different  regiments,   on   Grenadier  island    a 

pomt  between  Kingston  and  Sackett's  Harhpur    ^ch 

had  been  assigned  as  the  best  rendezvourtSise  of  S 

contiguity  to  the  head  of  the  St.  Lawrenc;    Ordem  were 

forwarded  to  fort  George,  to  colonel  Scott  of  SillTr^ 

who  hac  been  left  by  general  Wilkinson  i^  commandTf 

ttat  post   to  embark  his  artillery  and  colonel  RandoW^ 

^girnent  of  infantry,  on  board  a  vessel  of  the  squaXv 

«^^ll'Tfort'«*''  "^^"';k  ^*^^  ^^^-«'  had'left  th"' 
garrison  of  fprt  George  on  the  2d  of  October,  with  the 
tergest  portion  of  the  troops,  who  were  now  awaidnt  Se 
arnva  of  the  remainder  at  the  rendezvous,  anrhadL^n 
actively  employed  in  providing  clothing,  aid  other  equb- 
ments  necessary  to  the  soldiers,  in  the  course  ofTS 

and  backet's  Harbour,  he  had  made  frequent  vovaffeT 

lTh«??i*^".i'•^"P^  ^^^"-^  ^«"  bestowed^atXTmer 
^ved  at  Z  J«tf '"'  detachments,  which  al Aost  d.i,^^' 
He  had  lll^  f'  T'  ^?™^d»«tely  despatched  thence, 
ae  had  caused  a  sufficient  number  of  boats  to  be  orena^ 

a  itir ^  *^.r"'^^^  *^^^"S»^  *h«  St-  I^awrencf  ?nd 
lieueLnf'^T"*  ^.^?.'^™"^""*'  «^  Sackett's  Harbour  to 

^8  troonl  •*'^''"'.°^""^^'  ^^  **^^«««  proceeded  to  put 
we  troops  m  motion  at  the  island.  ^ 

^  By  this  time,  the  23d,  the  force  at  that  nlace  amnnnf.^ 

lonelSwit  '  ^'^^^  ^'}'f'y}  ^  few  companies  of  co- 
»cott  s  (2d)  regiment  of  artillery ;  colonel  M'Comb'B 


'«  i 


ti 


-    il 


SfS'Hl 

11' i  '•'^ 


-• '  >i  1 '  \ 


i\'i- 


,«  V 


174 

(5d)  regiment  of  artillery;  the  6th  regiment  of  infantry; 
the  6th,  commanded  by  captain  Humphreys;  the  11th;  the 
12th,  colonel  Coles;  the  13tb,  commanded  by  colonel 
Preston  of  the  23d ;  the  14th,  lieutenant  colonel  Dix ;  the 
16th,  colonel  Biearly  ;  the  16th,  colonel  Pearce;  tlie  21st, 
colonel  Ripley  ;  the  22d,  colonel  Brady  ;  the  25th ;  and 
major  Forsythe's  rifle  corps. 

Having  issued  the  necessary  orders,  general  Wilkinson 
resolved  on  moving  on  the  25th  ;  and  although  the  gales 
which  had  prevailed  for  several  days,  continued  with  un- 
abated violence,  and  were  now  attended  with  heavy  rains, 
bis  anxiety  to  promote  the  issue  of  the  expedition,  indu- 
ced him  to  order  the  embarkation  of  the  troops;  and,  buf- 
fetting  with  a  disorder,  which  had  rendered  his  health  ex- 
tremely precarious,  he  remained  on  the  island  until  the 
embarkation  was  nearly  completed,  directing  the  boats  to 
take  advantage  of  the  momentary  pauses  of  the  storm, 
to  slideinto  the  St,  Lawrence. 

A  few  days  before,  intelligence  had  been  forwarded  by 
colonel  Scott,  of  the  enemy's  having  evacuated  the  en- 
trenchments in  the  neighbourhood  of  fort  George,  and  of 
their  having  burnt,  and  otherwise  destroyed,  all  their  camp 
equipage  and  many  stand  of  arms,  in  order  to  facilitate 
the  march  of  their  troops  to  Kingston;  to  which  place 
they  had  been  ordered,  as  soon  as  generaj  Wilkinson's 
contemplated  movement  was  discovered.  They  had  been 
apprized  of  the  intentions  of  the  American  general  pre- 
vious to  the  9th,  and  on  that  day  they  abandoned  the 
whole  peninsula,  on  the  Niagara,  and  directed  their  atten- 
tion to  the  defence  of  Kingston,  against  which  they  sup- 
posed the  Americans  would  move.  To  keep  that  impres- 
sion alive,  and  to  confine  their  plans  to  the  protection  of 
Kingston  only,  general  Wilkinson  fixed  on  French  creek, 
which  lays  immediately  opposite  the  point  at  which  the 
British  suspected  he  would  land,  as  the  general  rendez- 
vous of  the  troops,  after  their  entrance  into  the  St.  Law- 
rence. Brigadier  general  Brown  (now  of  the  United 
States'  regulars)  was  ordered  forward  to  command  the 
advance  of  the  army  at  that  place ;  and  the  rear  was  soon 
after  strengthened  by  the  arrival  at  Grenadier  island,  of 

.»         £}■"•"-    " - ■"■     ' * •    ^ 1  — I  — u 

On  the  Ist  November,  the  enemy  appeared  at  French 
creek  with  a  isquadron  of  four  large  vessels,  and  a  num- 


175 

berof  boats  filled  with.infantry,  and  attacked  the  detach- 
inent  at  that  place  in  the  evening;.    General  Brown  Has- 
tily made  armngements  to  defend  his  position,  and  aftfer 
a  sliort  cannonade,  the  enemy's  vessels  were  compelled' 
to  retire,  by  a  battery  of  three  1 8  pounders^  which  had  beeir 
erected,and  managed  with  great  spirit,  by  captainsM^Pher- 
sori  and  Fanning,  of  the  artillery.    The  enemy  fell  dowii^ 
toaconvementharbour,  and  renewed  his  attack  on  the 
following  morning.    By  the  same  judicious  arrangements 
he  was  again  repulsed,  and  a  few  hours  afterwards  the 
American  squadron  entered  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  took- 
a-position  near  French  creek,  to  command  the  north  and 
south  channels.    On  thr-  3d  and  4th  the  rear  of  the  army 
arrived  at  the  general  rendezvous.     On  the  5th  the  flo- 
tilla  of  transports  got  under  way,  and  arrived  without  ac- 
cident, below  MorriBville. 
On  the  6th  the  commander  in  chief  ordered  the  flotilla 

wfr^rp  "^'^^/^^  ?^v^®  *'™y'  *<>  «  P«i«*  ^^^thin  three 
miles  of  Prescott,  and  directed  the  powder  and  fixed  am* 

munition  to  be  debarked,  and  transported  by  land,  under 
cover  of  the  night,  below  the  enemy's  batteries.    Before 
either  of  these  orders  were  put  in  execution^  he  proceed- 
,  ?A  i  fV""  '•«?<^n»oit''e  the  place,  and  having  cott- 
chided  that  the  safest  passage  of  the  troops  would  be 
effected  on  shore,  he  ordered  the  debarkation  of  every- 
mwi,  except  the  number  necessary  to  navigate  the  boat^ 
and  the  army  marched  by  night,  two  miles  below  Pres- 
fu   ;,  ,^"*ng«™ents  woe  also  made  for  the  passage  of 
the  flotilla,  to  the  same  point;  and  general  Brown  beine 
the  general  officer  of  the  day,  was  charged  with  the  su- 
penntendence.    Availing  himself  of  a  heavy  fog  which 
came  on  at  8  o'clock  in  the  evening,  thecommlnder  in 
chief,  believing  he  cduld  pass  the  enemy's  fort  unobser- 
ved, put  the  flotilla  and  the  marching  columns  in  motion, 
at  the  same  instant;  and  proceeded  in  his  gig,  foIJowed 
hy  his  passage  boat  and  staflf,  ahead  of  the  former     An 
unexpected  change  of  the  atmosphere,  enabled  the  ene- 
mys  garrison  to  discover  the  boats,  and  the  columns 
upon  land,  whose  movements  had  been  simultaneous. 
i>€arly  fifty  24  pound  shot  were  fi?ed  at  the  ge  leral's  pas- 
sage bpat,  and  the  columns  were  ab  :  ;\^d  with  creat  num- 
-rs  01  siiot  and  sheils.     Meither  of  ihese  attacks  were 
successful,  nor  did  the  Americans  sustain  the  slightest  de- 

Q2 


i'S» 


m. 


M^^v 


76 


I'M 


!'^,t'4>i 


f 


grec  of  injury.  The  flotilla  had  been  halted  by  general 
Brown,  as  soon  as  the  firing  was*  heard,  and  it  did  not 
resume  its  course  until  the  setting  of  the  moon ;  when,  in 
attempting  to  pass,  at  the  same  place,  it  was  attacked 
also.  It  nevertheless  pursued  its  passage  to  the  place  of 
destination,  under  a  heavy,  though  ineffectual  fire,  of  three 
hours.  Durmg  all  this  time,  of  three  hundred  boats,  of 
which  the  lotilla  was  comprized,  not  one  was  touched  by 
a  ball ;  and  before  10  o'clock  of  the  7th,  they  all  safely 
arrived  at  the  designated  rendezvous.  From  this  place, 
the  commander  in  chief  forwarded  an  order  to  general 
Hampton,  commanding  the  left  division  of  the  northern 
army,  to  form  a  junction,  with  the  division  then  descend- 
ing the  St.  Lawrence, 

On  the  7th  the  difficulties  in  this  descent  encreased. 
The  indisposition  of  the  general  became  alarming.  The 
passage  of  the  troops  was  delayed  half  a  day,  in  extrica- 
ting two  schooners  from  the  river  near  Ogdensburg,  which 
were  bailed  with  provisions,  and  had  been  driven  to  that 
place  by  the  enemy's  fire.  In  the  course  of  the  morning, 
the  commande:  la  chief  had  been  infoimed,  that  the  coast 
below  was  lined  with  posts  of  artillery  and  musquetry,  at 
every  narrow  pass  of  the  river.  He  therefore  detached 
colonel  M'Comb,  with  the  elite  corps  of  about  twelve  hun- 
dred men,  to  remove  these  obstructions.  At  three  in  the 
afternoon  the  array  followed.  Immediately  after  passing 
the  first  rapid  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  the  passage  boat  of  the 
general  was  again  attacked  by  two  pieces  of  light  artille- 
ry, which  colonel  M'Comb  had  not  observed  in  his  march. 
No  other  injury  was  done,  however,  than  the  cutting  of 
the  rigging,  the  attention  of  these  pieces  being  diverted 
from  that  object,  by  lieutenant  colonel  Eustis  and  a  few 
light  gun  barges,  between  whom  and  the  enemy,  a  can- 
nonade was  kept  up,  without  effect  on  either  side.  But^ 
major  Forsythe,  who  was  in  M'Comb's  rear,  having  land- 
ed his  riflemen,  and  advanced  upon  the  enemy,  three 
pieces  were  precipitately  carried  away.  About  six  miles 
below  the  tow»  of  Hamilton,  the  flotilla  came  too,  and 
tile  general  received  intelligence  of  colonel  M'Comb's  ha- 
ving routed  the  enemy  at  a  block  house,  two  miles  lower. 
The  dragoons,  which  were  attached  to  the  first  division 


the  White  House,  situated  at  a  contraction  of  the  river. 


177 

On  tfie  morning  of  the  8th,  the  fJotilla  proceeded  to  this 
pomt  and  after  hay  ng  ordered  gen.  Brown  to  go  fomard 
with  h.8  bngade,  to  reinforce  colonel  MTomh   «« i  * 
take  command  of  the  advance  of  Zlmyl^ne^^^ 
kmson  directed  the  transportation  of  thelalZTlZt 

:L'e  ofe^^Ht.  ™^  ^"^^-«  -«  --P'«*«^  ^^ 

Jit  ^T^  '^*^'  *^  ''^'*'^"*  ^^  **^'«  '^^er  was  commenced 
by  the  American  army,  the  British  troops  who  had  been 
concentrated  in  the  vicinity  of  K^Eston  having  fifc«« 
ed  that  that  post  was  not  the  object  of  SeSl«o„^^'' 
mediately  proceeded  to  PrescotI     The  dav  ^Hn^^"*' 
jhat  on  which  the  Americans  had  pas^^^h17vil^a^^^^^^ 
British  commandant  sent  a  flae  over  to  O^iIJk,  ^  '  -I 
a  de„,and  for  the  delivery  of  J.I  ^ ^l^tpt'^^^h"^^ 
under  the  penalty  of  the  immediate  destrucHon  nf  /h  ' 
town     Without  waiting,  however,  for  a  cTm^cf nSh 
hi.  demand,  he  enemy  embarked  about  fifteen  hunS 
troops,  and  followed  general  Wilkinson's  descent  wShf 
intention  of  annoying  his  rear.     On  the  9th,  theyC  ^ 
far  gained  upon  it,  as  to  bring  on  a  skirmish  between  the 
American  riflemen  and  a  party  of  British  mjm:!  !    i  V 
dians     After  having  killed  Te  iS^^t  "  L"  J^J 
completely  repulsed.  enemy  were 

In  the  course  of  this  day,  the  cavalry,  with  four  pieces    ^ 
of  artillery,  under  captain  M'Pherson;  ^ere  attached  to 
he  command  of  general  Brown,  who  was  o  dered  to 
dear  he  coast  below,  as  far  as  the  head  of  the  «  W^^ 

«^r      i^lu'  ^^^"S  ""^^^^^  *«  halt  several  hours  bvfhe 
rapidity  of  the  current,  to  enable  o-eneral  RmZ^t!.^  . 

good  his  march,  in  time  to  covef  the'^^^^^^^ 
^Wla,  geijpral  Wilkinson  arrived  at  a  poln^al  ed    he 
Yellow  H  use,  which  stands  near  the  J         '  ^^ 

On  J^e  morning  of  the  10th,  he  ordered  o-enerar  Brmvn 
to  prosecute  his  march,  with  all  the  troo„TnmW  v 
command  except  two  pieces  of  artiSery'^rthe  2d  drf 

%Z     r  ''^^'^  ^^^  '^'  "^^^'y  «f  the  men,  indaced  the 
vommandmg  general  to  anarch  as  many  of  them  ««  nnc.- 

men  oTfh;  J     k^.^'^S^***'  ^h^-^-efore,  as  weir  as  all  the 
men  of  the  other  brigades,  with  the  reservation  of.  11 

ml  nZT'u  ''^'''^^'^  *^^  ^«^*^'  w^re  as3igne"d7offene- 
^«1  Boyd,  who  was  ordered  to  take  necefsary  prfcau- 


■«' 


mi:    4 


k:  t 


m 

j^H!*; 

K| 

J 

^mi 

:f.? 


"M 


i'i 


\  1  iV' 


17a 

tion?  tp  present  the  e««my,  hwigiDg  on  th©  rear,  from 
iQAklDg  a^  aclTaatAgcoue  attaclfr.;  and  if  attacked,  to  turn; 
uppn,  ajid'if  possible,  tp  beat  them.  General  Brown,  m 
obedience  to  thesift  orders,  inarched  withi  the  advance, 
then  consisting.Qf  about  eighteen  hundred  men,  and  com- 
p»p«d  principaily  of  colo»el  M'Comb's  artillery,  some 
companies  of  colonel  Scott's  regiment,  part  of  the  light, 
artUlwy,  the  riflemen,  and  the  6tb,  l«h,  and  22d  regi- 
m^t4.  At  a  block  house  near  the  saut^  which  had  been 
ejpected  to  harrass  the  flotilla  in  its  descent^  he  was  enga- 
ged by  a  strong  party  of  the  enemy,  with  whom  he  con- 
tended for  a  few  minutes,  and  at  length  compelled  them 
to.  retire.  Thifr  repulse  was  effected  entirely  by  major 
Forsythe,  who  was  severely  wounded  in  the  engagement 
General  Browtt  then  took  a  position  near  the  foot  of  the 
smt'  At  tlie  same  time  a  number  of  British  galleys  and 
g}in  boats  approached  the  flotilla,  now  at  the  shore,  and 
commenced  a  cannonade.  The  galley  mounted  a  long 
24  pounder,  which  materially  injured  the  American  barges, 
and  it  became  necessary  to  run  two  18  pounders  on  shore, 
and  form  a  battery  to  resist  the  enemy's  attack.  One  shot 
from  this  battery  obliged  the  British  to  retire  up  the  river; 
and  it  beigg  then  too  late  to  trust  the  flotilla  to  the  soul, 
the  current  in  which  allows  no  chance  to  land,  or  to  pu^ 
sue  any  other  than  its  own  course,  tlie  barges  lay  too 
until  the  morning  of  the  11th. 

At  10  o'clock  on  that  day,  the  flotilla  was  prepared  to 
sail ;  and  the  division  under  general  Boyd,  consisting  of 
his  own,  and  generals  Covington  and  Swartwout's  bri- 
gades, was  already  formed  in  marching  order,  when  an 
alarm  was  heard  from  the  gun  boats,  and  the  command- 
ing general  was  apprized,  that  the  enemy  were^dvancing 
in  column.  The  encreasing  indisposition  of  general  Wil- 
kinson rendered  him  incapable  of  taking  the  field;  gene- 
ral Lewis  having  declined  the  command,  in  consequence 
of  being  iU  also,  general  Boyd  was  ordered  to  turn 
upon  and  attack  the  British  force.  The  enemy's  gun 
boats  were  advancing  at  the  same  time,  with  a  view  to 
attack  the  rear  of  the  flotilla,  as  soon  as  it  should  move 
off.  The  officers  having  it  in  charge,  were  therefore  di- 
rected not  to  leave  the  shore.  General  Boyd  advanced 
upon  the  enemy,  with  his  deiaehmeiit  iormeH  in  uifce  Cv~ 
luems,  and  forwarded  a  body  of  general  Swartwout's  bri- 


179 

g&de,  consistiiig  ot  the  21  st  regiment,  to  meet  and  bring 
the  enemy  to  action.  Colonel  Ripley,  with  this  regiment, 
ranged  through  the  woods,  which,  in  a  semicircle,  skirted 
Chrystler's  field,  and  drove  in,  several  parties  of  the  skir- 
mishers.   Upon  entering  the  open  field,  he  discovered 
the  British  advance,  consisting  of  the  49th  and  Glengaiy 
regiments.     With  these  he  immediately  commenced  an 
action,  in  which  he  twice  charged  these  united  regiments, 
either  of  which  being  more  than  equal  to  the^  1st,  and  drove 
them  over  the  ravines  and  fences  by  which  Chrystler's 
field  was  intersected;  when  they  fell  upon  their  main  body. 
Meanwhile,  general  Covington  had  advanced  upon  the  ene- 
my's right,  where  his  artillery  had  been  planted ;  and  at 
the  moment  when  the  21st  assailed  the  British  left  flank, 
this  brigade  forced  the  right  by  a  vigorous  onset,  and  the 
result  of  the  action  was  now  looked  to  with  great  cer- 
tainty. The  gallant  conduct  of  general  Covington  attract- 
ed the  attention  of  a  party  of  sharp  shooters  stationed  in 
Chrystler's  house,  one  of  whom  levelled  hie  piece,  and 
shot  him  from  his  horse.  The  wound  proved  to  be  mor- 
tal, and  in  two  days  after  the  genera!  died.    The  fall  of 
their  commander,  threw  that  brigade  into  confusion,  and 
itTcry  soon  broke  before  the  enemy's  artillery;  and,  to- 
gether with  the  16th,  took  shelter  behind  the  21st,  which 
was  still  engaged  with  the  British  left  and  centre.    Four 
pieces  of  artillery  had  been  planted,  to  enfilade  the  ene- 
my's right,  but  out  of  reach  of  support ;  and  when  Co- 
vington's brigade  fell  back,  the  British  commander  wheel- 
ed part  of  his  line  into  column,  to  attack  and  capture  them. 
A  body  of  dragoons,  under  the  adjutant  general  Walbach^ 
attempted  in  a  very  gallant  manner,  to  charge  the  British 
column,  but  the  nature  of  tlie  ground  prevented  its  being 
checked,  and  the  intervenUon  of  the  21st  between  the 
cannon  and  the  enemy,  alone  retarded  his  advance.  The 
British  then  fell  back  with  much  precipitation.  The  25th, 
which  had  been  disordered,  was  at  this  time  in  a  ravine  ; 
and  on  all  parts  of  the  field,  skirmishes  and  detached  bat- 
tles were  kept  up  with  various  success.    The  2 1st  being 
out  of  ammunition,  was  withdrawn  from  the  exposed  po- 
sitions of  the  ground,  and  a  second  attempt  was  soon  after 

vv .  bmith,  of  the  light  artillery,  who  commanded  one  piece,' 
enabled  the  enemy  to  capture  the  only  trophy  they  obtaia- 


ft    J 


i« 


ed*  The  coolnesd^and  bravery  of  capt.  Armstrong  Irvine, 
4&ved  the  remaining  pieces,  wliidi  he  brought  off  the 
.  field.  The  aolion  immediateLy  after  ceased  It  had  beeo 
fought  with  distinguished,  gallantry,  by  about  seventen 
hundred  undisciplined  men,  against  the  same  number  of 
British  veterans,  and  its  duration  was  upwards  of  two 
Hours.  The  enemy's  force  consisted  of  detachmenU 
from  the  49th,  84th,  104th,  the  voltigeura,  and  the  Glenr 
gary  regiment.^  These  retired  to  their  encampment,  sod 
the  Americans  to  their  boats. 

The  American  loss  on  this  occasion,  amounted  to  three 
hundred  and  tbirty-niue.  One  hundred  and  two  of  whom 
were  killed.  Among  these  were  lieutenants  Smith,  Hun- 
ter, and  Olmstead.  The  loss  in  woundM,  was  swelled 
by  the  rank  and  worth  of  the  officers  on  that  list.  Gene- 
la]  Covington,  colonel  Preston,  majors  Chambers,  Noon, 
and  Cummings ;  captains  Foster  and  Townsend,  of  thi 
flthr;  Myers  and  Campbell,  of  the  13th;  Murdock,  of  the 
aeth  i'  and  lieutenants  Heaton,  of  the  1  llh ;  Williams,  of 
the  13th;  Lynch,  of  the  14th;  Pelham,  of  the  2Ist;  and 
Brown  and  Crary,  of  the  25th,  were  the  officers  compo- 
aingit 

In  this  battle  the  victory  wa&  claimed  on  both  sides. 
Att  impartial  examination  of  tlie  result,  however,  will 
either  lead  to  the  conclusion  that  it  was  a  drawn  battte; 
Qr,  that  if  any  advantages  occurred  to  either  party,  they 
J  were  decidedly  gained  by  the  Americans.  The  front  of 
the  enemy  had  been  forced  back  more  than  a  milO)  in  the 
early  pai-t  of  the  action,  and  it  never  regained  the  ground 
thus  lost  T^  use  the  words  of  the  American  general,  his 
views  and  those  of  the  British  commander  "were  pre- 
cisely opposed.  The  firsl  being  bound  by  the  instructions 
of  his  government,  and,  the  most  solemn,  obligations  of 
4iJdyy  to  precipitate  his  descent  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  by 
every  practicable  means;  and  the  last,  by  equally  impe- 
rious duties,  to  retard,  and  if  possible,  to  prevent  such  de- 
acent*  If  then,  he  (the  British,  commander)  found  him- 
self victorious  on  this  day,  it  was  certainly  in  his  power 
to  have  effected  the  one  or  the  other  object,  and  as  he 
made  no  attempt  to  effect  either,  it  follows  incontestibly, 
t|Tat_he_had,nQ  fair  ground  on  which  to  claim  a  victory." 
So  tar  from  obstructing  the  further  descent  of  the  river, 
t}i#  ensmy.  nev«r  again  assailed  th&  colusan  upon  land,  or 


181 

the  bap.  «f  the  flotffla.    Earty  on  the  moninfr  of  the 

art  near  €o.rnwan,  where  ^^,„,^,  ^^ 

tfiis  place,  general  Wilkinson  received  a  letter  from  general 
Hampton,  m  which  he  declined  a  meeting  at  St.  Relis,  t"e 
pace  named  in  the  orders  which  had  been  «ent  to  Wm  on 

he  6th,  and  mformed  the  commander  in  chief  that  he  in- 
Ltfn  th".Zf.''  ^'^^^hamplain,and  thence  U>  coi^S- 
rate  in  the  attack  upon  Montreal.  Gen.  Wilkinson  immedi- 
ately  concluded,  that  it  would  be  useless  to  prosecute  Wa 
route  to  Montreal  any  further,  and  that  eve,^  prospect  of 
a  desirab^  termmaUon  of  the  campaign  was  destroyed. 
He  therefore  summoned  together  the  principal  officers  of 
Uiat  division  of  the  army,  with  which  he  wm  acting,  who 
determined  that  the  receipt  of  this  despatch,  rende  ed  S 
expedient  that  the  army  should  quit  the  Canadian  si'de  of 
fte  St.  Lawrence,  and  go  into  winter  quarters  at  French 

i3«?in8tent  Af/'"  H '  '^^'''^  "  accordingly  did  on  the 
2iu-  •  *i^^*''*  *'*'^*"?  surmounted  many  perilous 
difficulties  m  he  descent  of  a  river,  crowded  with  various 
obstructions,  the  further  prosecution  of  its  passage  was 
hu8  entirely  abandoned,  by  the  united  determination  of 
thecommander  m  chief,  and  his  council  of  war. 

Whether  the  refusal  on  the  side  of  general  Hampton, 
to  form  a  junction  with  general  Wilkinson,  at  the  Stf  Re- 
ps instead  of  adopting  his  own  plan  of  marching  by 
Champlain  and  Cognawago,  should  have  prevented  the 
prosecution  of  tlie  campaign  to  its  original  object,  does 

It^^'f^^f'^'J^^  P'^^^"^«  ^^  "^«««  sJ'^tches  ti  dis- 
L, :.  •  ''  r  ?"^»n««s  «f  the  writer  of  them  to  be  stu- 
Jously  imparljal ;  and  he  does  not  Aesitate  to  acknow- 
ledge his  belief,  that  many  circumstances  are  yet  to  trans- 
Si'  iT  ^^^  P"^^^*'  "^P^"^^"  <^«"  *>e  regulated.  The 
0  der  of  the  commander  in  chief,  and  the  answer  to  that 

lint  1^  *?'^  P^P^''  ^^^^h  <^«»'  a*  this  early  day, 
bep  ocured;  and  the  reader  has  an  opportunity  of  mak- 
ing up  his  own  judgment  from  them.* 

*ffead  Quarters  of  the  army,  District  No.  9,  .even  miUi  above 

Ogdennburg. 

Nov.  6,  1813,  in  the  evening, 


Sir, 

"ai*!  who,  by  bad 


I  address  you  at  the  special  instance  of  the  secretary  of 
>ad  roads,  worse  weather,  and  ill  health,  was  di. 


'>  ?l 


m 


i 


<]| 


I<.  j  ii  I 


t%2 

Whilst  leneral  Wilkinson  was  engaged  in  concentral- 
ing  the  left  divifiion  of  the  army,  at  Grenadier  Island,  pre- 
paratory to  die  descent  of  Uie  St.  Lawrence,  general 

verted  from  meeting  me  at  this  place,  and  determined  to  tread 
back  his  steps  to  Waahington  from  Antwerp,  on  the  29th  ul- 
timo. 

I  am  destined  to,  and  determined  on  the  attack  of  Montreal, 
If  not  prevented  by  some  act  of  God ;  and  to  give  security  to 
the  enterprise,  the  division  under  your  command,  must  co-ope. 
rate  with  the  corps  under  my  immediate  orders.  The  point  of 
rendezvous  is  the  circumstance  of  greatest  interest  to  the  issue 
of  this  operation,  and  the  distance  which  separates  us,  and  my 
ignorance  of  the  practicability  of  the  direct  or  devious  roads  or 
routes,  on  which  you  must  march,  make  it  necessary  that  your 
own  judgment  should  determine  that  point.  To  assist  you  in 
forming  the  soundest  determination,  and  to  take  the  most 
prompt  and  effectual  measures,  I  can  only  inform  you  of  my  in- 
tentions  and  situation  in  one  or  two  respects  of  first  importance. 
I  shall  pass  Prescott  to  night,  because  the  stage  of  the  season 
will  not  adow  me  three  days  to  take  it ;  shall  cross  the  cavalry 
at  Htimilton,  which  will  not  require  a  day,  and  shall  then  press 
forward,  and  break  down  every  obstruction  to  the  confluence  of 
this  river,  with  Grand  river,  there  to  cross  to  the  isle  Perrot, 
and  with  my  scows,  to  bridge  the  narrow  inner  channel,  and 
thus  obtain  foothold  on  Montreal  island,  at  about  twenty  milei 
from  the  city;  after  which  our  artillery,  bayonets,  and  swords, 
must  secure  our  triumph,  or  provide  us  lionourable  graves.  In* 
closed  you  have  a  memorandum  of  my  field  and  battering  train, 
pretty  well  found  in  fixed  ammunition,  which  may  enable  you 
to  dismiss  your  own ;  but  we  are  deficient  in  loose  powder,  and 
musket  cartridges,  and  therefore  hope  you  may  be  abundantly 
found.  On  the  subject  of  provisions,  I  wish  I  could  give  as  fa- 
vourable information ;  our  whole  stock  of  bread  may  be  conj- 
iputed  at  about  15  days,  our  meat  at  20.  In  speaking  on  this 
subject  to  the  secretary  of  war,  he  informed  me  that  ample  ma- 
gazines were  laid  up  on  Lake  Champlain  ;  and  therefore  I  must 
request  you  to  order  forward  two  or  three  months  supply,  by  the 
safest  route,  in  a  direction  to  the  proposed  scene  of  action.  I 
have  submitted  the  state  of  our  provisions  to  .  pf'iteral  offi* 
cers,  who  unanimously  agre.?,  that  it  should  not  pre  ►;  t  >e  pro- 
gress of  the  expedition  ;  and  they  also  agree  r  ;  •  ".  lat  if 
you  are  not  in  force  to  face  the  enemy,  you  stiouiu  meet  us  at 
St.  Regis,  or  its  vicinity. 

I  shall  expect  to  hear  from,  if  not  to  see  you,  at  that  place 
on  the  9th  or  10th  inst. 

I  am,  &c. 

J  AS.  WILKINSON. 

».«'.*    _   /»- _,  Tir     rr— ..xa~ 

1^    •*..  \  was  preparing  an  express,  which  I  should  have  dcs- 
jsatched  to-morrow,  but  for  the  fortunate  call  of  colonel  King. 


you,  at  that  place 


WILKINSON. 


183 

Hampton  had  determined  on  moving  the  right  dlTisiou 
fmin  Champlam  down  the  Chateaugav,  for  the  pjpose 
of  obtaining  a  s.tuaUon,  from  Which  it  could  with  more 
facility,  co-operate  :..  the  contemplated  movement 
aga.n.t  Montreal  On  the  21at  of  October,  he  pu  hia 
troops  m  motion,  having  first  arra  ged  a  line  of  commu. 
nication  as  far  up  the  St.  Lawrence  as  Ogdensburg  An 
«aen8.ve  wood,  tilled  with  hewn  timblr,  and  coverlS 
with  the  Indians  and  the  enemy's  light  troops,  threw  an 


Sim, 


Head  ^utrtert,  Four  Corners, 

Nov.  8,  1813. 


.olnnJ  ^     •  ^°"°"''  ***  "^'^''^^^ "  *  ^*te  hour  last  evening,  by 

colonel  Kmg,  your  communication  of  the  6lh.  and  waa  dfeolv 

;  e88ed  with  the  sense  of  responsibility  it  imwserof  decid 

•ng  upon  the  means  of  our  co-operation  ""i^'^^' »» <»«C'd. 

inJtttun*ctioifl?s.'*2'  '-^  "'''"'''"  ofyour  officers,  of  effect, 
mj  tiie  junction  at  St.  Regis,  was  most  pleaninp.  as  beintr  th#» 

mo.t  .mmedute,  until  I  came  to  the  disclosure  of  the Tnfouit 

of  your  supplies  of  provisions.     Colonel  Atkinson  wUl  t3« 

the  reasons  that  would  have  rendered  it  imposTble^"  me    o 

have  brought  more  than  each  man  could  have  carried  o^  hi- 

back;  and  when  1  reflected,  that  in  throwing  mysefSponvoi^J 

rSTdiVr^e^sttar^JtdUt"^^^^^^^ 
suhL^tli;  general  aVd'^ncVa? ote^s    Lr;?hr:r^ 
Mif  back  upon  my  mim  depot,  where  all  tl>,  ™..„.  „!■  .'^     '^' 

tommg  every  effort  to  open  a  coramimication  between  piaH. 
b«rg  a„d  Cognewago,  or  any  other  point  yorm.yTnTcate  on 

:J.^^.nT^JV„^l^rt;rs^-^■•»^-^^^^^^^^^^ 

ami  onl      » ^*   campaign,  m  the  late  snows  and  bad  weather 

ertbM  wtlUtTemnt  ""-.V  ''" ''^  accomplished  by  human  ex- 
ms  Uih^cZlZn.  '  '"^"^  ^''°'*^  '"  '^'  «^"^'*^»  ol>- 

•^0  Major  General  Wilkinson.  -  ^'  HAMPTON. 

R 


r? 


(■:  J- 


wM 


1  -^        ^ 


'I' 


^ii<* 


\-' 


164* 

impediment  in  the  way  of  the  PLgineers,  who  were  to 
cut  a  road  for  the  passage  of  rhe  artillery  and  stores.  Ge- 
neral I^u^ui  had  been  detached  with  the  light  troops,  and 
one  regiment  from  the  line,  to  turp  them  in  flank,  and 
lo  seize  on  the  open  country  below.  In  this  he  suc- 
ceeded; and  the  main  arm/  advancing  on  a  circuitous 
road,  reached  the  advanced  position  on  the  evening  of  fhe 
22d.  At  a  distance  of  seven  miles  from  the  ground  on 
which  the  army  encamped,  was  a  wood  v/hich  had  been 
furmeu  into  »  i  abatis^  and  was  filled  with  a  succession  of 
breast  works,  the  rearmost  of  which  were  well  supplied 
with  ordnance.  Behind  these,  the  disposable  force  of  (he 
enemy  was  placed ;  in  front  cf  them  the  light  tro(.ps  and 
Indians.  Sir  George  Prevost  was  8upi)osed  to  be  the 
commander  in  chief  of  the  forces  and  breast  works  thus 
arranged.  It  was  resolved  to  attack  and  dislodge  him. 
Colonel  Purdy,  who  commanded  the  tirst  brigade,  was 
ordered  on  the  26th  to  ford  the  river,  and  march  down  on 
its  ojiposite  side,  until  he  should  reach  the  enemy's  renr, 
where  he  was  to  re-cross  the  river,  and  attack  him  in  his 
breast  works ;  whilst  the  second  brigade,  under  general 
Izard,  was  to  assail  him  in  front.  Th-.  fire  from  one,  was 
to  be  the  signal  of  attack  for  the  other.  Colonel  Purdy 
accordingly  marched  down  on  the  opposite  bank,  but 
had  not  proceeded  far,  when  he  received  a  countermaud- 
ina;  order  from  general  Hampton,  issued  in  consequence 
of  a  communication  from  the  quarter  master  general's 
department,  which  the  general  deemed  unfavourable  to 
the  prosecution  of  his  plan. 

In  attempting  to  return  to  the  place  at  which  he  had 
previously  crossed  the  river,  colonel  Purdy  was  attacked 
by  the  enemy's  infantry  and  Indians,  who  were  repulsed 
after  a  short  contest,  tli'oui;h  they  had  thrown  the  Ameri- 
can column  into  partial  confusion.  The  British  at  the 
same  time  came  out  of  their  works,  to  attack  the  2d  bri- 
gade on  the  opposite  side.  They  were  repulsed  at  lliis 
point  also,  and  general  Izard  drove  them  rapidly  behind 
their  defences.  The  1st  brigade  attempted  the  construc- 
tion of  a  bridge  of  logs,  and  thouish  it  was  assailed  by  a 
considerable  force  of  the  British  regulars,  and  received  a 
sharp  fire  across  the  river,  the  bridge  was  completed,  and 
colonel  Purdy  re-crossed  his  men.  He  was  agaiii  attack' 
ed,  and  several  limes  resisted  the  charges  of  the  enemy 


185 


The  army  commenced  a  retreat,  a(.er  losing  abouf  fifiy 
men ;  ami  as  general  Hampton  received  an  account  of 
the  enemy's  being  continually  reinforced,  he  resolved,  on 
the  advice  of  a  council,  to  retreat  to  the  Pour  Corners. 
The  army  acconlingly,  on  the  Slst,  returned  to  a  position 
which  it  held  many  days  before.  In  these  various  skir- 
mishes, majors  Snclling  and  Wool  were  particularly  dis- 
tinguished. 

j1  peiite  guerre,  was  kept  up  on  the  lines,  by  colonel 
Clark,  who  commanded  a  regiment  of  infantry,  acting  as 
riflemen,  which  had  already,  on  several  important  occa- 
sions, been  of  great  annoyance  to  the  enemy.  But  this 
incursive  warfare  was  stopped  soon  after  the  return  of 
general  Hampton's  division,  and  a/l  the  troops  under  his 
command  were  put  into  winter  quarters,  in  the  course  of 
the  month  of  November,  and  the  command  resigned  to 
geii:.>ral  Izard. 

Not  long  after  the  departure  of  general  Wilkinson  from 
fort  George,  that  post  fell  successively  to  the  com- 
mand of  colonel  Scott,  general  Harrison,  and  general 
M'Clure,  of  the  New  York  militia;  under  each  of  whom, 
frequent  skirmishes  tbok  place.  In  one  of  these,  colonel 
VVilcocks,  with  the  Canadian  volunteer  mounted  regi- 
ment, behaved  with  personal  bravery,  and  gave  an  augu- 
ry of  the  servicer  which  the  American  governr  .ent  might 
expect  from  this  new  species  of  troops. 

On  the  10th  December,  it  was  ascertained  tliat  the  ene- 
my had  collected  a  force  of  fifteen  hundred  regulars,  and 
at  least  seven  hundred  Indians,  and  were  proceeding  on 
their  march  to  fort  George,  to  expel  the  Americans  from 
the  garrison  and  the  shores.  The  remnant  of  an  army, 
of  which  the  garrison  was  at  that  lime  composed,  render- 
ed  the  post  altogether  untenable,  and  general  M'Clure  de- 
termined on  destroying  the  town  of  Newark,  and  the  bat- 
teries by  which  it  was  protected,  and  evacuating  fort 
George,  with  a  view  to  posting  himself  at  fort  Niagara. 
Accordingly,  having  first  given  the  inhabitants  full  notice 
of  his  intentions,  he  put  them  into  execution,  and  crossed 
nis  force  over  to  the  American  shore.     Newark  was  left 

jn  flames,  and  the  guns  of  fort  George  were  rendered  use- 
less. Tho  nKWCok  A.«« :.._,i iJ:  •_  ^. A-^  »     .  .. 

--.  „„„„„  i^;ix,c3  aiiivcu  wmy  m  uiiie  lo  nnu  inem- 

selves  without  shelter,  and  were  obliged  to  fall  back  to 
Hueenstown.    From  this  place  general  M'CIure  attempt- 


I:  !f 


UU 


m.  *i 


mM 


186 


cd  to  dislodge  them,  by  the  batteries  at  Lewistowu,  but 
without  effect. 

The  British  commander  became  highly  incensed  at  the 
destruction  of  the  town  of  Newark,  and  secretly  resolved 
on  the  conflagration  of  Buffaloe,  Schlosser,  and  Lewis- 
town,  and  the  capture  of  fort  Niagara ;  the  garrison  of 
which  they  destined  to  be  put  to  the  sword.  A  surmiae 
of  these  intentions  of  the  enemy,  induced  the  American 
commander  to  transfer  his  head  quarters  to  Buffaloe ;  to 
which  place  he  immediately  set  out,  to  provide  for  the 
protection  of  its  ci- izens,  and  called  forth  the  neigbouring 
militia  en  masse. 

Fort  Niagara  was  at  this  time  garrisoned  by  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty-four  sick  and  effective  men,  and  wag 
commanded  by  captain  Leonard,  of  the  artillery,  who, 
notwithstanding  the  notorious  fact  of  the  enemy's  being 
within  two  hour's  march  of  the  fort,  neglected  to  provide 
against  an  assault,  by  night ;  and  on  the  evening  of  the 
18th,  jtook  up  his  quarters  at  a  farm,  two  miles  distant 
from  his  command.  At  4  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the 
19th,  the  enemy,  four  hundred  in  number,  crossed  the 
Niagara,  under  colonel  Murray,  and  approached  the  prin- 
cipal gate,  which  was  then  open.  Accompanied  by  hi» 
Indian  warriors,  he  rushed  furiously  in  upon  the  garrison, 
and  in  a  few  minutes,  put  an  end  to  all  opposition.  The  only 
resistance  which  was  made,  he  received  from  the  guard 
in  the  southeast  block  house,  and  the  sick  who  crawled. 
out  from  their  beds.  What  officers  were  within  the  fort, 
exhausted  every  means  of  defence,  of  which  the  sudden- 
ness of  the  attack  had  not  deprived  them.  On  entering 
the  garrison,  colonel  Murray  received  a  wound  in  the 
arm  ;  soon  after  which  he  yielded  the  command  to  colo- 
nel Hamilton — ^under  whose  superintendence,  the  women 
of  the  garrison  were  stript  of  their  clothing,  and  many  of 
them  killed,  and  the  persons  of  the  dead  officers  treated 
with  shocking  indignity.  In  the  meantime  captain  Leo- 
nard arrived,  and  was  made  prisoner ;  and  out  of  the 
whole  number  of  troops  in  the  garrison,  twenty  only  ef- 
fected their  escape.  The  British  flag  was  immediately 
after  unfurled,  and  the  enemy  had  the  entire  command  of 
the  entrance  to  the  Niagara. 

In  the  course  of  the  same  morning,  abou'  seven  hun- 
dred Indians  made  an  attack  upon  LewistowV)  wluch  wa^ 


^^pf 


r,  crossed  the 


187 

defended  by  a  small  detachment  of  militia,  qnder  major 
Bennett,  who  resisted  the  assailants,  until  he  was  entirely 
surrounded,  and  then  desperately  cut  his  way  through 
with  the  loss  of  eight  mei^and  eflfected  his  retreat.  This 
village,  and  those  of  Young's  town,  Manchester,  sasd  the 
Indian  Tuscarora,  were  speedily  reduced  tc  ashos.— 
Whilst  the  Indians  were  engaged  in  firing  Lewistown,  ma- 
jor Mallory  boldly  advanced  from  Schlosser,  and  attacked 
their  outer  guard  at  Lewistown  heights,  and  compelled  it 
to  fall  back  to  the  foot  of  the  mountain.  The  Indians 
were  soon  reinforced  however,  and  the  gallant  Mallory 
was  in  turn  obliged  to  retire.  He  retreated  gradually  to 
Tantawanty  creek,  occasionally  turning  upon,  and  fight- 
ing their  advance  guard,  for  two  days ;  at  the  end  of  which 
lime  the  Indians  gave  up  the  pursuit.  In  these  affairs, 
major  Mallory  lost  lieutenant  Lowe,  of  the  23d  infantry 
and  eight  men.  ' 

General  M'Clure  having  collected  nearly  three  thou- 
sand mihtia  at  Buffaloe,  left  them  under  command  of  ge- 
neral Hall,  and  repaired  himself  to  the  village  of  Batavia 
about  twenty-eight  miles  from  Buffaloe,  to  provide  hv  its 
protection  against  a  sally  from  fort  Niagara.  He  had  pre- 
Twusly  sent  lieutenant  Riddle  to  that  place,  with  all  the 
regulars  in  the  vicinity,  amounting  in  the  whole  to  eighty 
men,  to  secure  the  public  arsenal.  On  his  arrival  at  Ba- 
tavia, after  having  organized  a  body  of  militia  there,  he 
ordererfthe  reguters  back  to  Buffaloe,  to  encourage,  by 
their  example,  the  usaiscipHned  troops  of  hi*  division. 

On  the  30th,  the  British  landed  six  hundred  and  fifty 
^,f  *' J?!^*'^  ^®*^^»  *n<^  immediately  proceeded  to  the 
Tillage  <Jf  Buffaloe,  Before  they  reached  it,  however, 
Uiey  were  obstinately  opposed  by  colonel  Bleeksly  and 
two  or  three  hundred  raw  and  undisciplined  militia.  Ge- 
neral Hall  had  fallen  back  about  three  miles  from  Buffa- 
ZIT  ml^**!]?^  !^*'  ™^'  ^y  lieutenant  Riddle  and  his 
2  r*  J?®  ®"**'*'  *^^  ^^'•eady  entered  the  village, 
and  the  niihtia  fled  with  the  greatest  precipitation.  Rid- 
dle offered  to  march  with  his  regulars  in  front,  and  thus 
li  uz  .  ^^'"^^  mlliila,  to  repulse  the  enemy,  and 
Tl  ''*™/'*»"*  *^e  village.  But  the  general,  yielding  to 
rpmiia  ■^"^"^'''."*  "^«^  "it^«>  wfcciinea  me  propusai  oi  the 
egular  officer,  who,  thereupon  rode  towards  the  village, 
to  reconnoitre,    He  advanced  within  half  a  mile  of  its 

R2 


.1  f. 


188 

suburbS}  and  seeing  that  with  a  handful  of  spirited  men, 
he  could  himself  save  the  place  from  destruction,  he  re- 
turned to  general  Hall,  and  entreated  him  to  place  two 
hundred  meiM^nder  his  command,  with  whom  he  promi* 
sed  at  least  to  rescue  the  womCn  and  children,  who  would 
otherwise  be  sacrificed  by  the  Indians,  if  not  to  drive  out 
the  enemy.  General  Hall  was  of  opinion,  that  this  plan 
was  impracticable.  Lieutenant  Riddle,  therefore,  wa» 
prevented  from  attempting  it.  By  the  exertion  of  major 
Staunton  and  major  Norton,  each  of  whom  belonged  to 
the  village,  about  two  hundred  men  were  collected,  and 
expressed  their  willingness  to  combat  the  British  and  Iq* 
dians.  These  were  advised,  that  it  was  in  rain  to  attack 
their  enemy,  and  this  advice  v/as  sanctioned  by  the  ge- 
neral. At  length,  having  become  quite  indignant  at  th$ 
timidity  of  the  militia,  lieut.  Riddle  took  upon  himself  the 
responsibility  of  going  forward  with  his  own  men,  and  of 
rescuing  as  much  public  property  as  they  could  bear 
away^  He  entered  the  upper  part  of  the  village,  where 
he  was  informed  by  a  citizen,  that  colonel  Chapin,  who 
had,  long  before  the  flight  of  the  militia,  been  ordered  to 
take  post  at  Conejockeda  creek,  had  surrendered  the  plact 
to  the  enemy,  under  the  condition  that  they  were  to  plun- 
der, but  not  to  bum  it.  The  Indians  were  at  that 
moment  firing  the  houses*  Lieutenant  Riddle,  with  thirty 
men,  then  took  from  the  arsenal,  which  h^  not  been  (h' 
covered  by  the  enemy,  about  three  hundred  stand  of 
arms,  and  some  other  public  property,  and  having  made 
two  Indian  prisoners,  returned  to  the  position  occujpied 
by  general  Hall. 

On  the  following  day,  January  1st,  (1814)  a  small  party 
of  dragoons  were  ordered  in  advance  of  the  whole  mili- 
tia, which  general  Hall  marched  to  the  vicinity  of  the  vil- 
lage, in  order  to  make  a  show  of  force.  Captain  Stone, 
who  commanded  the  advance,  accompanied  by  lieutenant 
Riddle,  lieutenant  Totman,  of  the  Canadian  v0lunteers,and 

lieutenant  Frazer,  of  the  15th  regiment,  infantry,  made 
jfeeveral  prisoners  on  the  margin  of  the  village,  and  having 
delivered  them  to  the  genera],  the  latter  immediately  or- 
dered his  whole  force  to  retire,  and  called  in  the  advance 
for  that  purpose.  Riddle  and  Totman,  not  knowing  that 
the  dragoons  hatl  fallen  back,  were  left  in  the  near  neigu- 
bourhood  of  the  enemy,  and  upon  being  discovered  by  a 


180 

squadron  of  the  British  horse,  they  immediately  out 
spurs  to  their  own,  and  attempted  to  escape  toward  the 
rendezvous  of  general  Hall's  brigade.    They  veiy  soon 
outstripped  their  pursuers,  and  were  congratulating  them- 
selves upon  their  supposed  escape,  when  another  squad- 
ron of  the  enemy,  were  perceived  coming  out  of  the  road 
kading  from  Black  Rock,  and  directing  their  course  foi 
Buffaloe,  between  which  and  that  road.  Riddle  and  Tot- 
man  then  were.  Thus  hemmed  in  on  a  narrow  hijthwav 
with  a  superior  enemy  in  front  and  in  the  rear,  Uiey  saw 
no  probable  prospect  of  escaping,  and  would  have  riven 
themselves  up,  but  for  the  treatment  which  other  pri- 
soners on  the  Niagara  had  recently  received,  and  the 
practice,  which  had  about  this  time  comanenced,  of  mak- 
ing hostages.    No  alternaUve  seemed  to  present  itself,  but 
that  of  cutting  their  way  through  the  party  in  then-  flint  : 
and  on  this  the^r  mutually  resolved.    On  their  attempting 
to  dash  through,  with  violent  impetuosity,  the  whole  party 
discharged  their  pistols  at  them,  one  only  of  which  took 
effec  ,  and  the  unfortunate  Totman  fell  from  his  horse. 
Riddle  cut  through  with  his  sword,  and  having  gamed 
their  rear,  pushed  his  horse  through  a  narrow  lane  on  the 
Ht,  and  rode  into  a  thick  swamp,  terminated  by  a  forest. 
Through  this  the  enemy  did  not  choose  to  follow  him,  and 
he  arrived  at  the  head  quarters  of  the  general  on  the  same 
day,  without  having  met  with  other  obstacles. 

!n  a  few  days  after,  the  British  evacuated  all  the  posi- 
ions  they  had  captured,  except  fort  Niagara.  This 
they  put  m  a  better  state  of  defence,  and  from  it  they 
made  frequent  incursions,  which  were  ever  attended  by 
acts  of  violence  upon  the  neighbouring  inhabitants 

The  campaign  of  1813,  in  the  north,  was  now  drawn  ta 
ts  final  close;  and  though  a  high  degree  of  fulgency  was 
hrown  around  the  American  arms,  no  one  advantage  was 
obtained,  to  atone  for  the  blood  and  treasure,  which  had 
a  ready  been  exhausted.  The  capital  of  Upper  Canada 
m  been  aken.     It  was  scarcely  captured,  before  it  waa 

andoned.  The  bulwark  of  the  pLmce,  fort  Geoi^e! 
natl  been  gallantly  carried;  but  an  inferior  foe  was  sufifer- 
eu  to  escape,  after  being  beaten,  and  the  conquerors  were 
soon  alter  confined  to  the  works  of  the  fl-arrison  «n.i  ^i^.^. 
irr?/^  upwards  of  six  months.  The  long  contem- 
plated attack  upon  Montreal,  was  frustrated;  Kingston 


i 


pfp 


\v; 


1^ .,( 


I'  n 


■^k 


190 

still  remained,  a  safe  and  advantageous  harbour,  in  the 
hands  of  the  enemy ;  and  a  fortress,  which  might  have 
been  long  and  obstinately,  and  effectually  defended,  was 
yielded,  with  scarcely  a  struggle,  and  under  circumstan- 
ceb  Tiysterioua  in  the  extreme,  to  the  retaliating  invaders 
of  the  American  Niagara  frontier.  In  the  course  of  the 
summer  of  1813,  the  American  army  possessed  every 
position  between  Lake  Ontario  and  Lalte  Erie,  on  both 
sides  of  the  Niagara.  In  the  winter  of  the  same  year,  af- 
t^r  having  gradually  lost  their  possessions  on  the  British 
side  of  that  stream,  they  were  deprived  of  their  posses- 
sions on  their  own.  Another  day  may  bring  forward  a  de- 
velopement  of  the  causes,  which  led  to  such  unfavoura- 
ble results ;  and  posterity  will  be  much  better  enabled  to 
throw  the  censure  on  the  proper  officers,  than  those  who 
are  their  cotemporaries. 


l<      !  \ 


111 


m  !1 


a' 


CHAPTER  XIU. 

TheNavy^Horntt  challenges  Bonne  Citoyenne^U  eha^ 
/^,V^  «  ^^^'^r— Engages  and  captures  the  Sloop 
i  ■  .  ^f  "coc^-^mw*  at  New  Yark-^Relurn  of  the 
Fn^ateChesapeake^Her  cruiae-^.Srrival  and  dsparture 
oj  the  President  and  Congress-^nealh  qfCaptam  Law- 
rence, and  loss  of  the  Chesapeake-^Conduct  of  the  Pri- 

^vateers^Capture  of  the  British  Sloop  of  War  Boxer--^ 
Lieutenant  St.  Clair,  in  Chesapeake  Bau^Fight  be- 
tween^ the  Commodore  Decatur  and  the  Sloop  of  War 

JiJOltn  Hit  CCtm 

THE  United  States'  sloop  of  war  Hornet,  havinz  chal- 
lenged to  a  combat,  the  British  sloop  of  war  Bonne  Ci- 
toyenne  captain  Green,  who  declined  an  acceptance  of 
Uie  invitation,  she  was  left  before  the  port  of  St.  Salva- 
dor, by  commodore  Bainbridge,  with  orders  to  blockade 
the  enemy's  vessel  of  war,  containing  upward*  of  half  a 
miUion  of  dollars,  and  two  armed  British  merchantmen, 
then  lying  m  that  harbour.  This  blockade  was  viffilantly 
kept  up  until  the  24th  January,  1813,  on  which  day  the 
Montague  74  hove  in  sight,  and  chased  the  Hornet  into 
m  harbour,  whence,  however,  she  escaped  in  the  night, 
taptain  Lawrence,  who  still  commanded  her,  then  shift- 
ed h^  cruising  ground ;  and  after  having  captured  a  ves- 
sel of  ten  guns   laden  with  specie,  and  having  run  down 
the  coast  for  Maranham,  thence  off  Surrinam,  and  thence 
or  Demarara,  outside  of  the  bar  of  the  river  leading  to 
which  place,  and  with  the  fort  bearing  S.  W.  about  two  and 
an  fia^t  leagues  distant  from  him,  he  discovered  a  man  of 
b^Hn"^'  "^^i'":!;  ^%  ™n»ediately  attempted  fo  near,  by 
a  sernSr"-.^  ^J«  C^^^bana  bank.    In  m'aking  this  effort 
a  second  sail,  of  equal  size  to  ih^  nth..  «,o«  «i„^  a""' 
^ereti,  at  about  half  past  three,  ?:M:At2J^i^^Z 
*>the  strange  sail,  the  British  sloop  of  war  PeacockX" 


'f*.! 

!&■= 


I  sj 


*• 


'Hn 


192 

tain  Peake,  of  18  guns,  and  one  12  pounder  carronade,  a 
shifting  gun,  showed  the  English  flag,  and  the  Hornet  was 
immediately  cleared  for  action,  and  captain  Lawrence 
made  every  attempt  to  get  the  weather  gage.  The 
Peacock  was  edging  down  fast.  All  the  efforts  of  the 
Hornet  to  weather  her,  proved  fruitless,  and  at  25  minutes 
past  5,  the  American  ensign  being  then  up,  in  passing 
each  other,  the  two  vessels  exchanged  broadsides,  within 
half  pistol  shot.  The  effect  of  this  fire  on  board  the  ene- 
my's vessel  was  extremely  severe ;  on  board  the  Hornet 
no  loss  whatever  was  sustained.  The  Peacock,  being 
then  discovered  in  the  act  of  wearing,  captain  Lawrence 
bore  up,  received  her  starboard  broadside,  run  her  close 
©n  board  on  the  starboard  quarter,  and  poured  into  her  so 
heavy,  constant,  and  well  directed  a  fire,  that  in  fifteen 
minutes  she  surrendered,  with  her  hull  and  rigging  totally 
cut  to  pieces.  At  the  moment  of  her  surrender,  she  hoist- 
ed a  signal  of  distress,  and  in  the  next  moment,  her  main- 
mast went  by  the  board. 

Lieutenant  Shubrick,  whose  gallantry  on  this  occasion 
was  not  less  conspicuous,  than  in  the  actions  with  the 
Guerriere  and  Java,  in  each  of  which  he  gave  unequivocal 
proofs,  Bi  well  of  his  humanity  as  of  his  bravery,  was 
despatched  to  bring  her  o£Scers  on  board  the  Hornet. 
He  soon  returned  with  her  first  officer,  and  a  report  that 
the  captain  had  been  killed  in  the  latter  part  of  the  action, 
that  a  great  number  of  the  crew  were  either  killed  or 
wounded,  and  that  she  was  sinking  fast>  having  already 
six  feet  water  in  her  hold.  Both  vessels  were  brought  to 
anchor,  and  all  the  boats  immediately  despatc!hed  to  bring 
off  the  wounded,  and  as  much  of  their  baggage  as  could 
be  found.  All  the  shot  holes  which  could  be  got  at,  were 
then  plugged,  the  guns  thrown  overboard,  and  every  pos- 
sible exertion  used  to  keep  her  afloat,  by  pumping  and 
bailing,  until  the  prisoners  could  be  removed.  All  efforts 
appearing  to  be  entirely  unavailing,  the  body  of  captain 
Peake  was  enclosed  in  his  own  flag,  and  the  ship  sunk  in 
five  and  an  half  fathom  water,  carrying  down  thirteen  of 
her  own,  and  three  of  the  Hornet's  crew.  With  the  ut- 
most difficulty,  acting  lieutenant  Conner  and  midshipman 
Cooper-  who  were  superintending  the  removal  of  the  pri- 
soners, effected  their  escape,  by  jumping  into  a  boat 
which  was  lying  on  her  booms,  at  the  jBiomejit  when  the 
Peacock  sunk. 


19S 

The  loss  of  the  enemy  amounted  to  thirty-three  in 
woundecl,  three  of  whom  afterwards  died.  The  number 
of  killed  could  not  be  ascertained,  but  four  men,  besides 
the  captam,  were  found  dead  on  the  Peacock's  deck-  and 
four  men,  in  addition  to  the  thirteen  who  sunk  were 
drowned.  The  loss  on  board  the  Hornet,  was  one  maa 
killed,  two  slightly  wounded,  in  the  acUon,  and  two  se- 
rerely,  by  the  bursting  of  a  cartridge.  Her  hull  was 
scarcely  injured,  though  the  rigging  and  sails  were  cut 
her  foremast  pierced  through,  and  her  bowsprit  sliehtlv 
wounded.  »-        6   v 

The  officers  and  crew  of  the  Hornet,  were  not  behind 
those  of  any  other  ship,  in  emulating  the  example  of  cap- 
tain Hull  and  his  brave  companions :  and  the  course  and 
consequence  of  this  engagement,  bore  a  striking  simili- 
tude  to  that  with  the  Guerriere.  Acting  lieutenants  Oon- 
ner  and  Newton,  and  midshipmen  Cooper,  Mayo,  Get* 
Smoot,  Tippet,  Boerum,  and  Titus,  behaved  with  that 
bravery,  which  had  now  become  almost  inseparable  from 
the  American  name.  Lieutenant  Stewart,  the  first  officer 
of  the  ship,  was  unfortunately  too  ill  to  keep  the  deck 
and  captain  Lawrence  was  therefore  deprived  of  the  ser- 
vices of  a  meritorious  and  valuable  officer 

This  engagement  took  place,  in  view  of  the  ship  of  war 
which  lay  m  Demarara  river,  theEspeigle;  and  captain 
Lawrence,  being  apprehensive  that  she  would  beat  out  to 
the  assistance  of  her  consort,  the  Peacock,  the  greatest 
activity  prevailed  on  board  the  Hornet,  to  repair  damages 
as  soon  8G  they  were  sustained,  and  by  nine  o'clock  all 
«ie  b;  -^.^r«  stowed,  i  ew  sails  tent,  and  the  ship  com- 
pe.e.>  ,  for  another  action.     The  Esneiele  of 

equal  for.  the  Peacock,  did  not  come  out     ^   ' 

taplain  e,.ce'B  crew  had  been  on  two-fhirds  allow- 

nce  of  provisions  for  several  days,  and  the  number  of 
sou.  now  on  board  amounting  to  two  hundred  and  se- 
'^enty,  including  those  of  the  merchant  prize,  it  became 
necessary,  that  she  should  return  to  the  United  States  ~ 
hhe  shaped  her  course  for  New- York,  where  she  arrived 
bout  he  20th  of  March.     On  the  passage,  her  offic^rs^ 

vided  their  clothing  with  the  prisoners,  uho  had  lost 

wL'i'^???  '.  ^^'.  ^'^^  «f  "^*^  ^^'iP'  g^^^'^'  «P  each  a  pro- 
r;...y«  ui  uicus,  lo  iHc  crcw  of  the  Peacock:  and" thp 

Piivate  wardrobe  of  the  captain,  whose  attentions  to  Uie 


»'  <  n 


ff  r 


194 

wants  of  those,  whom  the  fortune  of  war  had  placed  b 
his  hands,  and  whose  exertions  to  ameliorate  their  condi* 
Uon  were  uuceasiug,  was  given  up  to  her  officers.  At 
New- York,  captain  Lawrence  was  received  with  univer- 
sal joy  ;  and  his  reception  in  other  cities,  was  simiinr  to 
that  which  had  been  given  to  other  naval  commanders. 

Many  days  had  not  elapsed,  after  the  arrival  of  the 
Hornet  at  New- York,  when  the  United  States*  frigate 
Chesapeake,  captidn  Evans,  of  36  guns,  returned  to  the 
harbour  of  Boston,  from  a  cruise  of  one  hundred  and 
fifteen  days.  During  that  time,  she  had  run  down  by  the 
Madeira'a,  Canaries,  and  Cape  de  Verds,  and  thence  down 
on  the  equator,  where  she  cruised  six  weeks.  Hentc 
she  proceeded  down  the  coast  of  South  America,  and 
passed  within  tifteen  leagues  of  Surrinam.  On  the  25th 
of  February,  the  day  after  the  conquest  of  the  Peacock, 
she  passed  over  the  place,  at  which  that  vessel  had  besn 
gunk,  and  thence  proceeded  down  by  Barbadoes,  Anti- 
gua, and  most  of  the  windward  islands,  thence  on  the 
coast  of  the  United  States,  between  Bermuda  and  the 
capes  of  Virginia,  by  the  capes  of  the  Delaware  within 
12  leagues,  by  New*York  within  20,  and  thence  by  the 
east  channel  to  Boston,  where  she  terminated  a  cruise, 
oo  the  10th  of  April,  marked  by  the  crpture  of  four  va- 
luable merchantmen,  the  chase  of  a  British  sloop  of  war, 
and  an  escape  from  two  line  of  battle  ships. 

The  command  of  this  ship,  was  then  given  to  captain 
Lawrence,  (her  late  commander,  captain  Evans,  having 
accepted  the  command  of  the  New- York  station)  and  di- 
rections were  immediately  given  to  repair,  and  re-equip 
her  for  another  cruise.  Commodore  Rodgers  had  return- 
ed to  that  port  also,  from  a  cruise,  in  which,  though  he 
did  not  capture  any  armed  ship  of  the  enemy,  he 
drew  from  the  coast  such  of  his  public  vessels  as  were 
destined  to  blockade  the  different  ports,  and  saved  to  the 
mercantile  interest  of  the  country,  many  millions  of  dol- 
lars- The  President  and  Congress,  were  at  that  time  the 
only  vessels  of  his  squadron.  To  keep  these  in  port,  the 
British  frigates  Shannon  and  Tenedos,  each  being  of  the 
largest  class,  appeared  off  the  entrance  to  the  harbour  of 
Boston,  and  sent  in  frequent  reports  of  their  size,  strength, 
ajid  armament.  Early  in  the  month  of  May,  hovvcrer, 
commodore  Rodgers,  put  to  sea  ;  but  the  British  frigates 


Ml 

avoided  him  by  sailing  from  the  coast.    In  (he  course  of 
that  month,  the  Shannon  returned  to  the  mouth  of  the 
harbour,  and  her  commander,  commodore  Brooke,  sent 
m  a  challenge,  to  the  commander  of  the  frigate  Chesa- 
peake.   Ihis  challenge  was  not  received  by  captain 
Lawrence,  but  his  ship  being  then  in  readiness,  he  under- 
stood the  menacmg  manoeuvres  of  the  Shannon  to  be  an 
inntation.  and  on  the  first  of  June,  with  a  crew  almost  ia 
a  state  of  mutiny,  and  unacquainted  with  their  new  cap- 
tain, and  without  his  full  complement  of  officers,  his  first 
lieutenant.  Page,  being  sick  on  shore,  he  sailed  out  to 
meet,  and  give  battle  to  the  hosMIe  ship.     The  Shannon 
sailed  from  the  bay  and  put  to  sea,  the  Chesapeake,  fol- 
lowing  m  chase,  seven  miles  astern.     At  half  past  4,  the 
Shannon  hove  to,  with  her  head  to  the  southward  and 
eastwai-d;  and  at  half  past  5,  the  Chesapeake  hauled  up 
her  courses,  and  was  closing  fast  with  the  enemy.     At 
15  minutes  before  6,  he  commenced  the  action  by  firing 
his  after  guns  on  the  starboard  side,   when  the  Cliesa- 
peake  gave  him  a  broadside ;  this  was  succeeded  by  a 
broadside  from   the  Shannon,   which  killed  the  sailing: 
master,  Mr.  White,  and  many  of  the  crew,  and  wounded 
captain  Lawrence ;  he  refused  to  quit  the  deck,  however 
and  ordered  a  second  broadside,   the   return  to  which 
wounded  the  captain  a  second  time,  and  kiljed  the  fourth 
heutenant,  Ballard,  and  lieutenant  Broom  of  the  marines, 
the  Chesapeake  then  ranged  ahead  of  the   Shannon, 
when  her  jib  sheet,  the  slings  of  the  fore  top  sail  yard 
her  spanker  brails,  and  her  bow  lines  and  braces,  being 
cut,  she  luffed  into  the  wind  and  took  aback,  and  fell  with 
her  quarter,  foul  of  the  Shannon's  starboard  anchor.     This 
accident  gave  a  decided  advantage  to  the  enemy,  and  en- 
abled h.m  to  rake  the  Chesapeake.     Captain  Lawrence 
was  all  this  while  on  deck,  still  persisting  in  his  refusal 
to  go  below,  when,  having  called  for  the  boarders,  he  re- 
ceived a  musket  ball  through  the  body,  and   in  a  lan- 
guishing state  was  carried  down.     At  this  moment,  the 
Ship  was  deprived  of  all  her  principal  officers;   the  first 
ueutenant,    Augustus   C.    Ludlow,  had  been   mortally 
wounded;  several  of  the  midshipmen  and  petty  officers. 
oesides  the  fourth  lieutenant  and  the  commandins  offir^^ 

l«!?"??u'  "^f '^  ^'^^^^  ^»"«^  <>'•  wounded,  and  the  com- 
mana  of  the  ship  devolved  on  her  third  Ueutenant,  Budd. 

8 


,  "I 


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196 

The  bravery  and  eeamanahip  of  this  officer  being  already 
known  to  the  crew,  some  hope  remained  r**  saving  the 
Bhip,  and  of  <*.Rptur5ng  the  superior  enemy.    But,  as  lieu- 
tenant Budd  asceiuled  the  spar  deck,  an  arm  chest  on  the 
quarter  was  blown  up,  by  a  hand  grenade  thrown  from 
the  Shannon's  tops.     The  boarders  very  soon  followed 
lieutenant  Budd,  but  before  they  reached  the  deck,  cap- 
tain Brooke  had  determined  that  the  Chesapeake  could 
only  be  carried  by  boar<ling,  and  having  already  so  many 
shot  between  wind  and  water  in  his  own  ship,  that  he  be- 
came apprehensive  of  her  sinking,  he  threw  his  marines 
ou  the  Chesapeake's  quarter  deck,  and  headed  <hem 
liimself.     Lieutenant  Budd  immediately  gave  orders  to 
haul  on  board  the  fore  tack,  for  the  [jurpose  of  shooting 
the  ship  clear  of  the  Shannon,  anu  of  attempting  Uie  cap- 
lure  of  captain  Brooke,  who  had  then  two  hundred  of 
his  crew  on  board  the  Chesapeake.     On  this  effort  tlie 
fate  of  the  ship  depended,  and  most  of  the  American 
crew,'  mindful  of  the  dying  words  of  their  gallant  com- 
mander, whose  injunction  on  them,  was,  "  VonH  give  up 
the  ship,"  several  times  attempted  to  succeed  in  it ;  but 
the  boatswain  having  mutinied,  and  persuaded  many  of 
the  men,  who  were  dissatisfied  at  not  having  received 
their  prize  money  of  the  last  cruise,  to  join  him  below; 
the  few  who  remained  (irm  to  their  duty,  were  soon 
overpowered ;  and  lieutenant  Budd  being  wounded  and 
thrown  down  to  the  gun  deck,  in  attempting  to  gain  the 
quarter,  the  scheme  entirely  failed,  and  the  enemy  gained 
complete  possession  of  the  upper  deck.  A  great  proportion 
of  the  crew,  who  had  escaped  a  wound,  nevertheless  con- 
tinued fighting;  and  caplain  Brooke,  as  he  was  crossing 
the  ship,  was  shot  through  the  neck  by  the  Chesapeake's 
chaplain,  Livermore,  whom  he  instantly  cut  down;  but 
he,  almost  as  soon,  received  a  wound  in  the  head,  and 
was  then  transferred  to  his  own  ship.     The  enemy's  crew 
were  now  commanded  by  lieutenant  Watt,  who  stabbed 
and  cut  down  the  wounded  and  vanquished,  without  re- 
gard to  their  cries  of  surrender.     He  was  killed  on  the 
Chesapeake's  deck,  according  to  one  account,  by  one  of 
the  Shannon's  sailors,  as  he  was  placing,  by  mistake,  the 
American  over  the  English  ensign ;  according  to  anoth«[j 
by  an  American  sailor  in  the  main  top,  when  in  ihe  a?- 
of  killing  a  wQUft^ed  marine.    The  enemy  had  now  the 


197 


fiBfr 


entire  possesRion  of  (he  Chesapeake  j  Ihc  English 
«ras  nylni;  at  the  ditrerent  niftat  heads,  yet  they  continiieil 
to  Hlioot  at,  and  otherwise  to  wound,  her  Bailors.  A  vol- 
ley of  mus(|ijetry  was  fired  by  them  down  upon  the 
wounded,  and  one  of  the  American  midshipmen  waw 
ass'iiled  by  a  British  marine  with  great  violence,  after 
his  BubmisAion  to  the  Shannon's  commander. 

In  this  engagement,  the  result  of  which  is  attributed  to 
many  fortuitous  events,  the  superiority  of  the  American 
gunnery  was  clearly  evinced.  The  Chesapeake  fired  two 
guns  to  one  of  the  enemy,  and  pierced  the  Sh'\nnon'9  sides 
in  so  many  places,  that  she  was  kept  afloat  with  very  great 
difficulty  ;  whilst  on  the  other  side,  the  Shannon's  broad- 
sides scarcely  injured  the  hull  of  the  Chesapeake.  At 
long  shot,  the  engagement  might  hare  terminated  diffe- 
rently ;  though  the  captain  and  crew  were  strangers  to 
each  other,  the  ship  just  out  of  port,  and  not  in  a  fighting 
condition,  and  many  of  the  8aik)rB  qnite  raw.  Her  rate 
ms  38  guns,  her  force  48.  The  rate  of  the  Shannon 
was  38,  her  force  49 ;  and,  in  addition  to  her  own  crew, 
Bhe  had  on  board,  sixteen  chosen  men  from  the  BeJla 
Pmle,  and  part  of  the  crew  of  the  Tenedos.  She  lost  in 
the  engagement,  besides  her  first  lieutenant,  the  captain's 
clerk,  the  purser  and  twenty-three  seamen,  killed ;  and, 
besides  her  captain,  one  midshipman  and  fifty-six  seamen, 
wounded.  On  board  the  Chesapeake,  the  captain,  the 
first  and  fourth  lieutenants,  the  lieutenant  of  marines,  the 
master,  midshipmen  Hopewell,  Livingston,  Evans,  and 
about  seventy  men,  were  killed ;  and  the  second  ami 
third  lieutenants,  the  chaplain,  midshipmen  Weaver, 
Abbott,  Nicholls,  Berry,  and  nearly  eighty  men,  wound- 
ed. The  greater  proportion  of  this  loss  was  sustained, 
after  the  enemy  had  gained  the  deck  of  the  Chesapeake. 

Soon  after  the  termination  of  the  action,  the  two  ships 
were  steered  for  Halifax,  where  the  bodies  of  captain 
Lawrence  and  his  gallant  officers  slain  in  the  battle,  were 
committed  to  the  grave  with  the  usual  honors,  attended 
oyall  the  civil,  naval  and  military  officers,  of  the  two 
nations,  who  happened  to  be  in  that  port. 

Not  long  after  these  honorable  funeral  obsequies  had 
f>een  performed  by  the  enemy,  captain  fieorse  Crown- 
jnsmeid,  brother  to  the  present  secretary  of  the^navy,  ac- 
wfttedby  the  laudable  desire  of  restoring  the  body  of  the 


m 


M 


I,  »"!TI  »  # 


"    ,H< 


•1^ 


198 

lamented  Lawrence  to  his  country  and  his  friends,  re- 
quested, and  obtained  permission,  of  the  president,  to 
proceed  in  a  flag  vessel  to  Halifax,  at  his  uidividual  ex- 
pence,  for  that  purpose.  The  commanding  officer  of  the 
British  squadron,  at  that  time  blockading  the  eastern 
ports,  sir  Thomas  Hardy,  readily  assented  to  the  free 
passage  of  captaip  Crowninshield's  brig,  and  he  aceor* 
dingly  proceeded  to  effect  his  object,  accompanied  by 
twelve  masters  of  vessels,  who  volunteered  to  compoae 
the  crew.  The  body  was  brought  to  the  port  of  Salem, 
and  entombed  with  the  remains  of  its  ancestors  in  New 
York,  where  the  highest  funeral  honors  were  paid  by  the 
citisens,  as  a  tribute,  of  their  respect  and  admiration,  to 
their  late  gallant  countryman. 

The  private  armed  vessels  of  the  United  States,  the 
number  of  which  had  greatly  encreased  since  the  account 
is  given  of  them  in  a  foregoing  chapter  of  these  sketches, 
were  still  cruising  over  the  Atlantic,  continually  captur- 
ing, and  otherwise  annoying  the  commerce  of  the  enemy, 
and  occasionally  engaging  some  of  his  public  ships,  in 
such  gallant  ccmb&ts,  as  are  entitled,  and  ought  to  be 
registered!  among  the  accounts  of  the  most  brilliant  naTal 
exploits. 

The  Comety  captain  Boyle,  of  1  ^  guns,  and  one  hundred 
and  twenty  men,  being  off  Pernambucco,  on  the  14th  Ja- 
nuary, discovered  four  sail  standing  out  of  that  place. 
This  squadron  consisted  of  three  English  merchantmen, 
the  ship  Qeorgty  captain  Wilson,  of  14  guns,  and  the  brigs 

Gamb&r,  captain  Smith,  and  Bowesy  captain ,  of 

10  guns  each,  who  were  bound  to  Europe,  under  the  pro- 
tection of  the  fourth  vessel,  a  Portuguese  national  ship  of 
32  guns  and  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  men.  The  latter 
having  exhibited  the  colours  of  her  nation,  captain  Boyle 
Btood  for  her,  and  received  a  communication  of  her 
character  and  object,  accompanied  by  an  injunction  not 
to  molest  the  merchantmen."  Considering  that  the  Por- 
tuguese had  no  right  to  afford  protection  to  a  British 
vessel,  in  the  nature  of  a  convoy,  captain  Boyle  informed 
her  commander  of  his  determination  to  capture  them  if 
he  possibly  could,  and  immediately  sailed  in  pursuit. 

A  c    thtiv  honi  clnee    irnrathf^r    ihf>    Qomfft  nnened  her  fire 

upon  the  three  merchantmen,  who  returned  it  witli  ala- 
crity.   The  man  of  war  delivered  a  heavy  fire  of  round 


199 

and  grape,  and  received  in  turn  a  broadside.  The  Eng- 
lish occasionally  separated  from  each  other,  to  cive  the 
Portuguese  a  chance  of  crippling  the  Comet  whwe  cap- 
tain,  howcFer,  kept  as  near  as  possible  to  the  merchant- 
men.  Frequent  broadsides  were  discharged,  as  oppor-* 
unities  varied,  at  the  whole  squadron,  whose  collected 
force  amounted  to  6*  guns,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the 

fL  «?f5!,     u'^  «*''  *''''°"'''  »"  *  «^°k«ng  condition- 
Soon  after,  the  brig  ifcre*  struck  also;  but  a  broadside 
from  the  man  of  war,  prevented  the  Comet's  boat  from 
tekmg  possession.     Captain  Boyle  then  repeated  his  at- 
tack upon  the  Portuguese,  and  obliged  her  to  sheer  off, 

I'^hpl^    f  •''^''^^^'''*"'"*^"^"*«^^  fi^«  >»«"'  killed 
and  Jier  captain  and  several  men,  wounded.    The  third 

merchantman,  the  Gambkr,  then  also  surrendered,  and 

«ie  bng^o^*;e*  was  immediately  taken  possession  of.: 

Il^T^l  ^^'^  *^^  ''^^'''^  "•j"''^^'  ^^^^  *^aptain  Boyle 
deemed  it  improper  to  board  them,  and  determined  to 
fey  to,  until  morning,  it  being  by  this  time  excessively 
dark  Between  the  Portuguese  and  the  Comet,  several 
broadsides  were  exchanged  in  the  course  of  the  night 
without  any  material  etfect.  On  the  following  morning! 
he  man  of  war  gave  signal  to  the  other  ships  to  make 
the  first  port,  and  stood  off  herself  with  that  view.  The 
Comet  brought  her  prize  into  the  United  States,  making 
her  way  through  a  squadron  which  was  blockading  the 
southern  ports.  Before  she  arrived,  however,^  she 
captured  the  Jlexis,  and  Dominica  packet,  each  if  lO 
guns,  and  the  Merdeen  of  8,  in  the  presence  of  a  British 

th^^ivateer  '^''''  "^"^  *"'  *^^  ^^'"''  ^'""^  "* ^""  ''^^''^  ^^" 
On  the  1st  of  February;  the  schooner  Hazard,  captain 

.h  „  m-'"*'  V.F'''  '"*^  thirty-eight  men,  captured  the 
nilf  r'/  *^  S""^""^  ^'*^^»  "»«»'  being  one  of  a> 
vth/.t'.^Tf;    ?"  ?"  ^^^'  '^^  ^««  rf-captureS 

fmm  NT       p  ^«^^«^^«'  «f «  g"n«  ^nd  thirty-eight  men, 

feZlTh  ^'•^:;*^«"««-  J'^'-^^  *%«  after,  the  Hazard' 
^1 10  with  both  engaged,  and  after  an  action  of  several, 
^•mites,  compelled  both  to  strike,  but  took  possession 
w  the  prize  only  and  carried  her  into  St.  Marys.     The 

wirJTn  T**  "^'^  '""'uninjured,  and  most  of  her  orew 
«the  k.ied  or  wounded.  On  board  the  Hazard,  the 
"ffsi  lieutenant  and  six  men  were  slightly  wounded^  but' 

S  2  * 


if 


[i 


I  K*'"* 


'  !•-     ,1 


2oa 

the  hull  and  rigging  were  severely  shattered  by  the  grape 
from  the  two  vessels. 

The  private  armed  schooner  General  Armstrong,  cap- 
tain Champlin,  of  1 8  guns,  being  within  five  leagues  of 
the  mouth  of  Surrinam  river,  on  the  11th  of  March,  dia- 
covered  a  large  sail  to  be  at  anchor  under  the  land.  The 
crew  of  (he  General  Armstrong  supposed  her  to  bean  Eng- 
lish letter  of  marque,  and,  consequently,  capt.  Champlin 
bore  down,  wiith  an  intention  of  giving  her  a  starboard  and 
larboard  broadside,  and  then  to  board  her.  The  stran- 
ger, in  the  mean  time,  had  got  sail  on  her,  and  was  stand- 
ing out  for  the  American.  Both  vessels,  thus  approach- 
ing each  other,  had  come  within  gun  shot,  (the  English- 
man firing  the  guns  on  his  main  deck)  when  the  General 
Armstrong  discharged  both  the  contemplated  broadsides, 
and  discovered  too  late  that  her  antagonist  was  a  heavj 
frigate.  She  nevertheless  kept  up  her  fire,  though  at- 
tempting to  get  away,  but  in  ten  minutes  she  was  sileiiced 
by  the  enemy.  The  last  shot  of  the  General  Armstrong, 
brought  dowii  the  enemy's  colours,  by  cutting  away  her 
mizen  gaff,  haulyards,  and  her  mizen  and  main  stay ;  and 
captain  Champlin,  presuming  that  she  had  struck,  made 
preparations  to  possess  her ;  but  the  frigate  opened  ano- 
ther heavy  fire  upon  the  schooner,  killed  six,  and  wound- 
ed the  captain  and  sixteen  of  her  men;  shot  away  the 
fore  and  main  shrouds,  pierced  the  main  mast  and  bow- 
sprit, and  struck  her  several  times  between  wind  and 
water.  '  In  this  condition  she  laid  upwards  of  45  minutes, 
within  pistol  shot  of  the  frigate;  but,  by  tiie  extraordinary 
exertiots  of  the  crew,  and  the  aid  of  sweeps,  she  got  out 
of  the  enemy's  reach,  and  arrived  at  Charleston  on  the 
4th  of  April. 

On  the  3d  of  that  month,  tlie  privateer  Dolphin,  of  10 
guns,  still  commanded  by  captain  Staflford,  who  had  ea- 
gaged  and  captured  two  of  the  enemy's  vessels,  mounting 
^^  guns,  was  attacked  at  the  mouth  of  the  Rappahan- 
nock river,  by  seventeen  barges  from  a  British  squadron. 
The  barges  carried  upwards  of  forty  men  each  ;  the  Dol- 
phin was  manned  by  sixty.  Two  letters  of  marque,  lay- 
ing there  also,  soon  yielded,  but  cnptain  Stafford  resolved 


hie 


rru. 


4nrA 


hours,  when  the  enemy  succeeded  in  boarding.    The 
Dolphin's  crew  fought  with  great  desperation  on  her  deckj 


201 

and  the  engagement  was  kept  up  many  minutes  longer 
before  the  vessel  was  captured.  The  enemy  took  down 
her  colours,  and  lost,  in  killed  and  wounded,  nearly  fifty 
men.    On  board  the  Dolphin,  four  men  were  wounded. 

In  the  course  of  the  summer,  the  United  States'  sloop 
of  war,  the  Enterprize,  lieutenant  commandant  Burrows, 
of  16  guns,  met,  engaged  and  captured,  after  a  severe  and' 
obstinate  fight,  the  British  sloop  of  war  Boxer,  captain 
BIythe,  of  18  guns,  and  brought  her  into  port.  The  cap. 
(ains  of  both  vessels  were  killed  in  the  engagement! 
Lieutenant  commandant  Burrows,  expired  at  the  mo- 
ment the  enemy's  vessel  struck  her  colours,  and  she 
was  then  taken  possession  of  by  lieutenant  M'Call  * 

At  a  harbour  near  Gwinn's  Island,  lieutenant  St.  Clair 
of  the  navy,  who  had  previously  distinguished  himself  as 
an  able  seaman,  in  the  sloop  of  war  Argus,  anchored  a 
small  schooner,  mounting  two  or  three  guns,  and  filled 
with  armed  men,  to  repel  the  depredations  which  the 
enemy  were,  about  that  time,  committing  along  the  shores 
of  the  Chesapeake.  He  encountered  a  schooner  who 
hailed  and  crdered  him  to  come  on  board  with  his  boat 
which  being  refused,  an  engagement  followed,  and  termi- 
nated in  silencing  the  strange  vessel.  She,  however 
renewed  it,  a  second  and  a  third  tune,  and  was  as  often 
silenced.  The  right  was  excessively  dark,  and  when 
lieutenant  St.  Olair  sent  his  boat  to  take  possession,  he 
discovered  that  she  had  made  her  escape,  leaving  him 
with  one  man  wotmded  on  board  the  schooner. 

This  succej^sion  of  sea  engagements  was  closed  by  a 
brilliant  attack,  made  by  a  privateer  upon  a  large  sloop 
of  war.  The  schooner  Commodore  Decatur,  of  10 
guns,  commanded  by  captain  Dominique,  engaged  the 
iloop  of  war  Dominica,  lieutenant  commandant  Barret 
•f  14.  guns,  and,  after  well  contested  action,  carried  her 
by  boardhig,  and  brought  her  into  the  United  States. 
No  event,  probably,  in  the  navaJ  annals,  furnishes  evi- 
dence of  a  more  brilliant  and  decisive  victory,  gained  by 
a  vessel  so  inferior  in  size,  strength  and  armament,  to  her 
antagonist 


Tin 


•    A 


chapter. 


.'.  f 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Blockade  of  the  Delaware  River  ^  and  of  Chesapeake  Bay-^ 
Attack  upon  Lewbtami,  on  tfie  former — Affair  below 
Lewistown-y-Rcpulse  of' the  enemy  near  Morris  River—- 
The  gun  boats  attack  two  frigates — Engagement  on  the 
Delamare — Depredations  in  Chesapeake  Bay — Frequent 
fti^ures  of  the  enemy  to  land — Affair  at  Frenchtown— 
DeMr action  of  Havre  de  Grace — Atid  of  Georgetown  ani 
Fredericktown — Blockade  of  other  ports — Loss  of  the 
Revenue  Cutter ^  Surveyor — Action  between  the  Gun 
Boats  and  three  Frigates — Defence  of  Crany  Island^ 
Hampton  assaulted,  and  pltmdered, 

THE  declaration  of  war  against  Great  Britain,  was  no 
sooner  made  known  at  tiiat  court,  than  its  ministers  de- 
termined on  sending  into  their  provinces  of  Canada,  the. 
veteran  regiments  of  their  army ;  and  adopted  effectual 
measures  to  forward  to  the  coast  of  the  American  states, 
a  naval  force  competent  to  blockade  its  principal  bays 
and  rivers.  Incens-d  at  the  successes  of  the  American 
naval  arms,  over  the  frigates  and  sloops  of  war  of  their 
nation,  they  hastened  the  departure  of  their  different 
fleets ;  and,  in  retaliation  for  the  invasion  of  their  proviii* 
ces  by  the  American  troops,  instructed  their  commanders 
to  burn  and  otherwise  to  destroy,  not  only  tlie  coasting 
mnd  river  craft,  but  the  towns  and  villages  on  the  navi- 
gable inlets ;  and  more  particularly  in  the  southern  de- 
partment of  the  union.  Early  in  iho  spring  of  1813,  de- 
tachments of  these  fleets  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Delaware,  and  at  the  entrance  to  the  Chesapeake  bay. 
Others  wf^re  ti  rf'nd<  Kvaus  at  Bermuda,  and  thence  to 
proceed  to  the  reinforcement  of  the  blockading  squad- 
rons. 


203 

In  i^e  m  nth  of  March,  the  Poictiers,  74,  commodore 
Beresford;  the  frigate  Belvidere,  and  several  smalter 
vessels  of  war,  entered  the  bay  of  Delaware,  and  des- 
troyed great  numbers  of  small  trading  vessels.  In  the 
course  of  that  month,  they  were  repeatedly  repulsed  ia 
their  attempts  to  capture  others  which  lay  near  the  shore, 
by  the  militia  of  Delaware ;  and  several  instances  oc- 
curred of  sharp  fighting,  which 'tended  to  improve  the 
diBeipline  of  the  volunteers  of  that  state. 

A  demand  was  made  upon  the  people  of  Lewistown, 
for  a  supply  of  provisions  for  the  blockading  squadron, 
which  being  spiritedly  refused,  on  the  6th  of  April  sir 
John  P.  Beresford  directed  captain  Byron,  to  move  &s 
near  the  town,  with  the  Belvidere,  as  the  waters  would 
permit  him,  and,  havinej  first  notified  its  inhabitants,  to 
bombard  it  until  his  demands  were  complied  with.    On 
the  night  of  the  6th,  the  bombardment  accordingly  took 
place  J  the  enemy's  gun  boats  approached  near  enough 
to  throw  their  32  pound  balls  into  the  town,  but  their 
bombs  fell  far  short  of  their  object.     Colonel  Davis,  who 
commanded  at  that  time,  had  already  removed  the  wo- 
men and  children,  and  returned  the  enemy's  fire  from  an 
18  pounder  battery,  with  which,  in  a  few  minutes,  he 
effectaally  silenced  one  of  the  gun  boats.    The  cannon- 
ade continued  nearly  twenty  hours ;  at  the  end  of  which 
time,  the  enemy  drew  off  his  vessels  and  descended  the 
bay,  having  discharged  upwards  of  600  shot,  shells  and 
Congreve  rockets.     The  shells  did  not  reach  the  town; 
the  rockets  passed  over  it ;  but  the  32  pounders  injured 
several  of  the  houses. 

On  the  lOlh  of  May,  the  same  squadron  proceeded 
from  their  anchorage  to  a  place  seven  miles  distant  from 
Lewistown,  and  sent  out  their  barges  to  procure  water 
from  the  shore.  Colonel  Davis  immediately  despatched 
major  George  Hunter  with  one  hundred  and  fifty  men,  to 
oppose  their  landing,  which  the  major  did  with  much 
^llantry,  and  compelled  them  to  return  to  their  shipping. 
The  Poictiers  and  the  Belvidere,  then  sailed  out  of  the 
hay  for  Bermuda;  and  the  militia  took  up  the  buoys, 
which  had  previously  been  set  in  the  river  by  the 
enemy. 

The  Spartan  frigate,  having  entered  the  Delaware  soon 
after  the  departure  of  this  squadron,  attempted,  on  the 


ll- 


m 


'}h 


81^ 

31st  of  the  same  month,  to  land  about  sixty  of  her  men 
near  Morris's  River,  on  the  Jersey  side,  with  a  view  to 
obtain  provisions.  A  small  party  of  the  mihtia  of  that 
state,  however,  hastily  collected  »nd  drove  them  off,  be- 
fore they  had  an  opportunity  of  visiting  the  farmers' 
houses. 

In  the  month  of  June,  the  frigate  Statira  and  the  sloop 
of  war  Martin,  reinforced  the  enemy,  anrl  had  captured 
many  large  merchant  vessels  bound  ur  tiie  Delaware. 
The  whole  trade  between  "^dpes  and  Philadelphia, 

and  many  of  the  intermedit.  .ices,  was  liable  to  be 
intercepted ;  and,  unless  they  were  protected  by  a  con- 
Toy,  the  small  vessels  usually  employetl  on  the  river,  did 
not  attempt  to  sail.  On  the  23d,  a  squadron  of  nine  gun 
Ifoats  and  two  armed  sloops,  under  lieutenant  command- 
ant Angus  of  the  navyi  convoyed  three  sloops  laden  with 
timber  for  a  44,  then  building  at  Philadelphia,  under  the 
eye  ,of  the  enemy.  The  gun  boats  engaged  the  two  fri- 
gates, whilst  the  sloops  effected  their  passage,  and  the 
Statira  and  Spartan  moved  from  their  anchorage  to  a  si- 
tuation out  of  reach  of  annoyance. 

A  merchant  sloop,  having  entered  the  bay  ort  the  32(1 
of  July,  on  her  return  from  sea,  was  cut  off  by  the  Martin 
sloop  of  war,  which  had  just  re-appeari^d  in  the  Dela- 
ware. The  sloop  ran  aground  to  avoid  capture ;  and  al- 
though she  was  afterwards  attacked  by  a  tender  and  fonr 
barges  well  manned  and  armed,  a  hasty  collection  of  mi- 
litia with  one  field  piece,  under  lieutenant  Townsend, 
drove  off  her  assailants,  and  saved  the  sloop. 

A  detachment  of  the  gun  boat  fl<  ilia,  being  at  this  time 
but  a  few  miles  off,  were  ai)prii5ed  f  the  attack  made  by 
the  sloop  of  war,  and  captain  Angus  immediately  pro- 
ceeded down  the  bay,  with  eight  gun  boats  and  two  block 
i&loops.  On  the  29th,  he  discovered  the  Martin,  ground- 
ed slightly  on  the  outer  ridge  of  Crow's  shoals,  and  de- 
tiermining  to  attack  her  in  that  situation,  he  anchored 
his  squadron  within  thr«e  quarters  of  a  mile  of  the  enemy, 
and  opened  a  fire  from  the  whole  line*  The  Junon  fri- 
gate came  up  to  the  assistance  of  the  sloop  of  war,  and 
anchored  within  half  a  mile  below  her.  Between  both  of 
he  enemy's  vessels,  mounting  in  all  69  guns,  and  the 
gun  boat  squadron,  a  cannonade  followed,  and  continued 
«bout  one  hour  and  forty-five  minutes;  in  all  whiph 


lime,  scaNjely  a  shot  struck  either  of  the  gun  boats, 
whilst  at  almost  every  fire,  (he  latter  told  upon  the  hulls 
of  the  sloop  and  frigfite.     This  difference  of  effect  in  the 
firing  being  discovered  by  the  British,  they  manned  their 
launches,  barges  and  cutters,  ten  in  number,  and  des- 
patched them  to  cut  off  the  boats  on  the  extremity  of 
thehne.     No.  121,  a  boat  commanded  by  sailing  master 
Shead,  which,  by  some  accident,  had  fallen  a  very  great 
distance  out  of  the  line,  and  was  prevented  from  reco- 
vering its  situation  by  a  strong  ebb,  and  the  wind  dyine 
away,  became  the  object  of  attack  from  the  enemy's 
terges.     Eight  of  them,  mounting  among  them  three  12 
pound  carronades,  anj  carrying  one  hundred  and  fifty 
men,  assailed  the  gun  boat  at  one  time.    Mi .  Shead  con- 
tuiued,  nevertheless,  to  sweep  her  toward  the  squadron, 
and  to  discharge  his  24  pounder,  alternately,  at  one  or 
the  other  of  the  pursuing  barges,  until  they  gained  so  fast 
upon  him,  that  he  resolved  to  anchor  his  boat  and  receive 
them,  as  warmly  as  the  disparity  of  numbers  would  per- 
mit hini.     He  then  gave  them  a  discharge  of  his  great 
gun,  with  much  effect,  though  to  the  injuiy  of  the  piece 
which  being  fired  a  second  time,  and  the  carriage  breaking 
down.  It  became  necessary  to  oppose  the  enemy,  who 
were  closing  fast,  by  the  boarders.     With  these,  Mr. 
bhead  resisted  them,  until  his  deck  was  covered  with 
men,  and  the  vessel  entirely  surrounded  by  the  barges 
Such  was  the  impetuous  fury  of  the  English  sailors,  that 
he  Americans  were  driven  below,  and  the  authority  of 
the  enemy's  officers  could  scarcely  protect  them  from 
violence.     The  flag  was  struck,  and  the  boat  carried  off 
m  triumph  to  the  men  of  war.     In  this  assault,  the  Brl- 
tish  lost  seven  killed  and  twelve  wounded.     On  board 
the  boat,  seven  men  were  wounded,  but  none  kilM. 
Ihe  squadron  was  all  this  time  firing  at  the  enemy's 
^ups,  who  retired  after  capturing  Mr.  S:3ead,  the  Martin 
fiaving  been  extricated  from  her  situation  on  the  shoal. 
Un  board  the  flotilla  not  a  man  was  injured,  and  but  one 
01  the  boats'  rigging  cut ;  this  was  No.  125,  commandei^ 
By  sailing  master  Moli(     .    The  engagement  continued 
fieariy  two  hours,  and  was  the  last  affair,  of  any  conse 
quence,  which  occurred  in  the  Delaware  durino-  this  vpm. 
m,  and  along  the  shores  of,  the  Bay  of  Ghesapeakc  , 
Wiere  the  hlockadmg  squadron  consisted  offour74'«,, 


i.,.. 


Xt'ti 


In 


n^f 


I 


•^#;  i, 


206 

several  frigates  and  Targe  eloops  of  war,  and  a  number 
of  tenders  and  barges  kept  for  the  purpose  of  navigating 
the  smallest  inlets,  depredations  of  every  kind,  and  to  a 
very  extensive  degree,  were  carried  On  with  unremitted 
avidity.    The  various  farms,  bounded  by  the  different 
creeks  and  river?,  tributary  to  the  bay,  became  the  scenes 
of  indiscriminate  and  unjustifiable  plunder.    The  stocks 
of  many  of  them  were  completely  destroyed  ;  the  slaves 
of  the  plantere  allured  from  their  service,  armed  against 
their  masters'  defenceless  families,  and  encouraged  to 
the  commission  of  every  kind  of  pillage.     Along  a  coast 
of  such  an  extent,  it  was  almost  impossible  to  station 
troops  to  resist  every   incursion,  or  to  draw  out,  and 
transfer  from  one  point  to  another  with  sufficient  celerity, 
even  the  neighbouring  militia.     But  many  instances  oc- 
curred, notwithstanding,  in  which  the  invaders  were  op- 
posed, and  sometimes  severely  repulsed,  by  a  handful  of 
militia,  collected  without  authority,  and  frequently  with- 
out a  leader.     On  the  shores  of  the  Rappahannock,  one 
of  two  divisions  of  the  enemy  was  beaten  and  routed 
with  loss,  by  a  small  party  of  Virginia  militia.     In  the 
neighbourhood  of  Easton,  (Maryland)  they  took  posses- 
sion of  several  islands.     Prom  Sharp's,  Tilghman's,  and 
Poplar  Island,  they  obtained  provisions  for  the  fleet,  and 
attempted  many  incursions  to  the  opposite  shores,  their 
success  in  which  was  prevented  by  b/>dies  of  cavalry 
and  infantry,  which  the  spirited  citizens  of  Maryland  had 
arranged,  at  different  rendezvous,  along  the  shores  of  the 
bay,  in  anticipation  of  a  visit  from  the  blockading  fleet 
The  commanding  officer  of  the  fleet,  sir  John  B.  Warren, 
was  at  this  time  in  Bermuda,  making  preparations  for  its 
augmentation ;  and  the  vessels  then  in  the  bay,  were 
commanded  by  rear  admiral  George  Cockburn     About 
the  latter  part  of  April,  this  officer  determined  on  attack- 
ing and  destroying  the  towns  most  contiguous  to  the  head 
of  the  bay ;  and  for  this  purpose,  on  the  29th,  he  led  a 
few  hundred  of  his  marines,  in  the  barges  of  his  ship,  the 
Marlborough,  to  the  attack  of  Prenchtown,  a  place  con- 
taining about  six  houses,  two  store-houses,  and  several 
stables ;  and  important,  only  because  of  beirig  a  place  of 
intermediate  depot,  between  Baltimore  and  Philadelphia. 
Apartyofmilitia,  from  Elkton,  too  inferior  io  ihe  iuvs- 
ders  to  justify  aa  attempt  at  resistance,  retired  on  thetf 


207 

approach,  and  at'  niral  Cockbum  landed  his  mapinesaud 
destroyed  the  stol-ehouses,  in  which  were  deposited  & 
quantity  of  goods  belonging  to  merchants  of  those  cities  of 
immense  value,  and  a  splendid  architectural  drop  curtain 
and  other  paintings,  belonging  to  the  Philadelphia  and 
Baltimore  theatres.  The  marines  being  no  professed  ad- 
rnirers  of  the  arts,  these  were  destroyed  without  much 
hesitation.  The  private  houses  were  saved  by  the  inter- 
ference of  some  reipectable  cftizens;  and  after  plunder- 
ing the  others,  and  setting  fire  to  two  vessels  laying  in  the 
harbour,  the  British  returned  to  their  shipping. 

The  town  of  Havre  de  Grace,  situated  on  the  west  side 
of  the  Susquehanna,  about  two  miles  from  the  head  of  the 
bay,  and  through  which  the  great  post  road  passes,  was 
the  next  object  m  the  plan  of  the  admiral's  operations 
On  the  morning  of  the  3d  of  May,  he  proceeded  to  its  as- 
sault with  nineteen  barges ;  and,  when  within  a  short  dis- 
tance ol  the  town,  commenced  a  tremendous  bombard- 
ment,  accompanied  by  the  firing  of  cannon  and  the  dis- 
charge of  numerous  rockets.    In  expectation  of  an  at- 
tack from  the  enemy,  the  people  of  Havre  de  Grace  had 
made  preparations  for  the  defence  of  the  place  •  and  a 
battery  had  been  erected,  of  two  6  pounders  and  one  9 
At  the  time  of  the  assault,  the  inhabitants  were  in  tlieii- 
beds;  and  there  being  no  sentinels,  the  first  notice  thev 
had  of  the  approach  of  the  enemy,  was  from  the  discharce 
of  one  of  his  pieces.    The  battery  had  been  assigned  as 
a  place  of  rendezvous,  in  the  event  of  an  attack  •  but 
such  was  the  surprize  which  the  presence  of  the  enemv 
excited,  and  so  incessant  his  discharges  of  shells  and 
rockets,  that  five  or  six  men  only,  were  fearless  enough 
y^^^Z  *?  J'u'"  *'''^*stwork,  and  resist  the  approaches 
of  the  British  barges.    This  small  party  kept  up  a  fire 
torn  the  battery,  until  the  enemy's  advance  commenced 
Its  debarkation;  when  all,  except  O'Neill,  an  old  citizen 
01  Havre  de  Grace,  abandoned  their  posts,  and  foJIowins 
he  militia,  who  had   fled  with   shameful  precipitation! 
left  the  women  and  children  of  the  place,  to  the  mercv 
of  the  invaders.     O'Neill  continued,  with  great  difficulty 
to  discharge  one  of  the  6  pounders,  until,  in  recoilin«-  it 
ran  over  his  thierh.  nnt^  rpnHf>ppd  him  inounuUi^  ^ee..^'. 
resistance,  in  that  way.    But,  collecting  all  his  strength 
««aimed  himseu  with  two  muskets,  and  retreating  fmrn 


?El! 


»t- 


208 

the  batlery  to  the  rear  of  the  town,  vainly  endeavoured  lu 
retard  the  fliglit  of  the  militia.    In  the  mean  time,  the 
whole  body  of  the  enemy  had  landed,  and  were  actively 
engaged  in  destroying  the  houses.    They  set  fircto  those 
which  had  not  been  injured  by  their  shells,  broke  the  fur- 
niture, and  cut  open  the  bedding  of  the  citizens  *.o  aug- 
ment the  flames ;   destroyed  the  public  stages,  maimed 
the  horses,  cut  to  pieces  the  private  baggage  of  the  pas- 
sengers, tore  the  clothing  of  some  of  tlie  inhabitants  from 
their  backs,  and  left  to  others  thdse  only  which  they 
wore.    Women  and  children,  flying,  in  every  direction, 
to  avoid  a  relentless  foe,  and  to  seek  protection  from  their 
own  countrymen,  were  insulted  by  the  morose  seamen 
and  marines ;  and  the  only  house  which  yet  remained 
entirely  uninjured,  was  sought  by  one  and  all,  as  an  as- 
sylum.     In  this,  which  was  a  spacious  and  elegant  pri- 
vate mansion,  several  ladies  of  the  first  distinction  had 
taken  refuge,  and  among  them  the  wife  of  commodore 
Rodgers.    An  officer,  who  had  just  before  made  prisontr 
of  O'Neill,  was  entreated  to  suffer  this  house,  at  least,  to 
escape  the  general  conflagration;  but,  as  he  was  obeying 
the  orders  of  aamiral  Cockburn,  the  most  he  could  do, 
wa«  to  suspend  his  purpose,  until  those  unprotected  wo- 
men could   prevail  upon  the  admiral  to  countermand 
them.    The  only  act,  partaking  of  the  least  degree  of 
liui.^8r.lty,  which  the  admiral  could  boast  of  on  this  oc- 
-^a^ion,  was,  his  compliance  with  these  earnest  entreaties. 
Waving    spread  desolation   through   the   whole   town, 
and  destroyed  the  doors  and  windows  of  a  handsome 
church  contiguous  to  it,  the  admiral  divided  his  party 
into  three  sections,  one  of  which  remained  in  the  town 
to  give  notice  of  the  approach  of  danger ;   the  second 
proceeded  on  the  road  leading  toward  Baltimore,  pl'n- 
dering  the  houses  and  farms  between  Havre  de  Grace  and 
Patterso.'s  Mills,  and  robbing  private  travellers  on  the 
high  wa: ,  of  their  money  and  apparel ;   and  the  tiiird, 
went  six  miles  up  the  river,  to  a  place  called  Cresswelb 
Ferry,  whence,  after  committing  many  acta  of  outrage, 
they  returned,  to  concentrate  their  force  at  the  place  of 
landing.     Here  the  admiral  ordered  them  tore-embark; 
and,  having  crossed  the  Susquehanna,  the  whole  squadron, 
of  his  barges,  made  round  the  point  which  ks  formed  at  us 
entrance,  and  shaped  their  course  three  miles  further  'jp 


nileavourcd  lu 


209 

Ihe  bay,  where  the  party  rc-IanUc«l,  repaired  to  those  im- 
porlan  and  valuable  works,  CfBcil  furnace,  where  Ty 
upwards  of  fifty,  pieces  of  elegant  canno'n,  the  only 
ogitunate  object  of  destruction  which  the  invaS 
had  ye  met  with      These  they  spiked,  stuffed  the  muT 

off  the  trunnions.  Not  content,  however,  with  demo- 
slung  them  and  destroying  other  implements  of  wir, 
(hey  battered  down  the  furnace,  which  was  private  pro! 
perty ;  set  fire  to  the  stables  belongincto  it  and  asthp 
astact  of  atrocity,  with  which  this'expedit  on  Irdt 
t.ne(  to  be  marked,  they  tore  up  a  small  bridge  con- 
etruc  ed  over  a  deep,  though  narrow  creek,  aSd  over 
whicli,  travellers  of  every  debcription  were  obliged  to 
i»as8  or  venture  through  a  wilier  channel  at  the  immi- 
uent  hazard  of  their  lives. 

Having  attained  all  the  objects  of  this  enierp.ize,  the 
fh«l''"''i'  ^"l'"^""^'  returned  to  their  shipp^igla 

t^^Z'i^f'  ^'f  t'  ^*^'  "^^y  '""^^^  f''«»»  the  neighbour 
hood  of  Havre  de  Grace,  to  the  great  joy  of  its  dislressed 

and  rumed  inhabitants.     O'NeilLwhohad  dai^d  to  r^  it 

th«mm  he  early  stage  of  their  proceedings,  was  token 

onboard  the  blockading  fleet,  and  detainetf there  severa" 

ays.  Such  of  the  inhabitants,  who  were  not  left  en- 
irely  destitute,  were  deprived  of  those  articles  of  pro- 
perty which  could  relieve  others;  and,  it  became  neces^ 
sary  to  apply  lor  assistance  to  the  principal,  and  most 
0  ulent  town  of  Maryland.  The  citizens  of  Baltimore 
re  leved  the  sufTcrers,  and  preparations  were  soon  aftar 
made  to  rebuild  the  houses. 

In  the  relation  of  such  scenes,  as  those  which  occurred 
at  Havre  de  Grace,  it  seldom  happens  that  an  account  is 

be  given  of  the  killed  and  wounded  in  an  acta     I„ 

1S1'^''1'^"''^  '^^'''!'  ""'^^  '"^^^  by  ^'Nei»  and  his 
ompamons,  Iiowevei-^  the  enemy  had  three  men  kided  • 

idbvtir^'l''-.  ^^  ihe  i«J»«bitants,  one  man  was. 
^»m  by  the  explosion  of  a  rocket. 

awSnt*  h"^'  the  immense  booty  which  he  had  brought 
17J1T  ^^^"'1  ^^  ^''*^^'  ^-"^^  fi»^'ng  his  sailors  and  ma- 
S!  ?fu^^^*^^^*  *^?  ¥^^'^y'  ^»»»ch  the  prospect  of  an  at- 
inrfV"  ""',"'  ^•quauj'  uefciiceiess  towns  held  out,  of  enrich- 
au It  ,Z!f  u'  *\^  'T  ^^™'^«^'  ^contemplated  an  early  as- 
«u|3on9uchasheshDuldtliscovertpcontainthemo£.tva- 


*  H 


*   - 


210 

luablc  spoil.    The  Ireadiery  of  »oine  citizens  of  the  re- 
public, and  the  emy  Intorcourso  whUli  h«  kept  up  wiih 
his  nppointftl  agents,  such  h8  are  oiriployed  by  officers  on 
all  f^tutions,  enabled  him  tu  dificover  tlio  situation  of  IhoMo 
towns  and  vHlages  along  the  hay  shore,  with  as  much 
rendioei>s,  as  ho  could  he  wafted  by  liitt  ships  from  one 
point  of  aHHault  to  another.      On   the  river  Sagsnfra», 
emptying  itaelf  into  the  bay,  at  a  short  Hailing  dibtance 
from  the  admiral's  anchorage,  aiui  separating  the  coun- 
tieH  of  Kent  and  Crocil,  stood,  nearly  opposite  each 
otlier,  the  villages  of  (Georgetown   and  Fredericktowii 
containing,  either   of    them,    about  twenty    houses.- 
These  had  attractetl  the  attention  of  admiral  Cockburn, 
and  he  determined  on  the  possession  of  the  property  of 
the  inhabitants.     On  the  6th,  he  tlierefore  entored  that 
liver,  with  eighteen  barges,  each  carrying  one  great  giin, 
and  manned  altogether  by  six  humlred  men.    Frederick- 
town,  was  his  firet  object.   At  this  place,  one  small  cannon 
had  been  mounted,  and  about  eighty  militia  collected,  uii' 
der  colonel  Veazy,  on  the  approach  of  the  b.irgea.  The  Ul^ 
tcr  commenced  a  heavy  fire,  and,  having  discharged  an 
immense  number  of  langrage-rockcts,  grape  shot,  and 
musket  balls,  within  a  very  few  minutes,  more  than  one 
half  of  th«  militia  fled.     Thirty-five  only,  under  the  colo^ 
nel,  stood  thjeir  ground,  and  worked  the  cannon  with 
such  skill,  that  the  boats,  whose  fire  was  principally  dl 
rccted  at  the  battery,  suffered  very  severely.    The  in- 
vaders were  gallantly  resisted  more  than  half  an  hour, 
when  they  effected  a  landing,  and,  marching  towards  the 
town,  compelled  tlie  militia  to  retire.     Cojonel  Veazy 
effected  his  retreat,  in  excellent  order.     Admiral  Cock 
burn  tlien  marched  at  tlie  head  of  his  men,  to  the  village; 
where,  after  having  plundered  tlie  houses  of  their  most 
Taluable  moveables,  he  set  fiVe  to  every  building  in  the 
town.    The  entreaties  of  the  distressed  women  and  chil- 
dren availed  not  with  the  admiral ;  and,  he  would  not  quit 
the  place,  until  he  had  entirely  deprived  them  of  every  re- 
fuge.    Whilst  the  flames  were  raging  in  every  i)art  of 
Frederick,  the  admiral  moved  over  Sassafrns  river,  to 
Georgetown,  and  demolished  all  the  stone,  and  burned  the 
wooden  buildings.    The  wretched  inhabitants  of  the  op- 
posite towns,  were  left  to  console  each  other,  anu  "js 
enemy's*  squadron  of  barges,   glutted  with  fresh  spoil 
retired  to  their  shipping. 


more  than  one 


21  r 

8..cccMMii«g  ihiH  nir«ir,  wen-  fi,.voraJ  ropulncs  of  miall 
partiOH  of  fho  nuuny  f,.<,i„  ,1..  .hor-H  of  hv  bay     Mam 
« trn„,U  were  n.jMle  to  l«rul  «t  (ho  dHTerent  ?ami«    a    1 
ihv  lar^o  m'WH  frrqiu-nlly  asHailetl  the  plonteThou«  m 

About  this  („„o,  (00,  admiral  Wnrr/n  ihhu  -li  a  .rnrin 

mnUon  from  Bermuila,  <ltTJ«rinK.  he«idoH /h.TK 
ami  lela^varo.  the  ports  of  New  Vork,  Charh    < ,?  pt 
Royal.  Havannah,  atuJ  the  whole  of  the  rlv^S^f  "^ 
to  be  .„  a  stale  of  rigoroun  blockade.  From  all  K  Z ' 
ho»yover.  notwithHlandinK  the  efficiency  oradn  Irai  Wa  ' 
en'8  force,  the  public  .hipa  of  war  of  the  UnUed  Ltiuen 
.he  priva  e  armed  veBseln,  an<l  numeroua  merchanlm  fn ' 
were  ihily  puUmg;  to  Bea.     Prizes  to  these    wK  Zi 
been  captured  at  immense  distances  from  tl^  coa  t   wer 
coatmuully  sent  Into  the  hnrbourn  *l.c(ld(o  bo  Hod 
aded;  «i,d  neutral  vessels  did  not  hesitate    to  enurrnl" 
depart,  at  the  pleasure  of  those  con~in  U.em      Ad 
.mral   Warren,  shortly  after  arrived  in  the  cKinc-ake" 
w.  h  an  additional  Heet,   and  a  large  number  of  S    ^ 
m\  marmes  under  general  sir  Sidney  Bcckwilh     li? 
tween  these  oflicers  and  admiral  Cockburn,  tSu«  nils' 

By  the  capture  of  the  bay  craft,  they  were  well  «.,n 

plied  with  tenders  to  the  different  vesseiroT  the  fleet " 

ml,  the  strength  of  their  annament,  eruibLitLm  L 

mv  tbe  craft  in  a  warlike  manner.     The  Revenue  Cut^ 

cp  Surveyor,  captain  Travis,  was  assailed  by  tl,e  banres 

Zl   I       r' '  *""'  ?^^''' "  «?'^"""*  resistance,  Avas  can 
^•red,  by  a  iorce  nine  times  superior  to  her  own      S« 
Cutter,  was  transferred  to  the  British  service   and  fn 

nvulcts  dong  the  shore.     The  depredation^*  of  the  enemv 
ce;ved,  about  this  time,  however,  a  salutary  check  S 
^veral  private  armed  vessels,  which  had  been  hM  into- 
tlie  American  service,  to  cruise  along  the  bay. 

we Ive  fngates,  and  many  smaller  vessels ;  and,  from  theb 

"ciis  01  all  the  surrnniulino-  fniirna    k«««. ...  .     . 

"*  an  attuck.    Hampton  and  Norfolk,  were  thought  to  be 


212 


'  •   »,»■'»' 


*,r^ 


» 1  i.ii 


>   4^ 


i:j; 


their  more  immediate  objects;  and,  preparations  were 
made,  at  the  latter,  to  man  all  the  works  which  had  been 
previously  constructed.  At  Norfolk,  the  militia  foree 
very  soon  consisted  of  ten  thousand  men.  At  fitemiptott, 
a  force  of  not  more  than  four  hundred  and  fifty,  had  yet 
been  oi^anized. 

On  the  18th,  three  of  the  frigates  entered  Hampton 
Roads,  and  despatched  several  barges  to  destroy  the  small 
vessels  coming  down  James*  River.  Two  or  three  gun 
boats  being  in  the  vicinity  of  that  river,  obliged  the  bargee 
to  retire,  and  communicated  to  the  naval  commander  of 
the  station,  conmiodore  Cassin,  intelligence  of  the  ap- 
proaclkof  the  frigates.  The  flotilla  of  gun  boats  in  Eli- 
su^th  River,  on  which  Norfolk  is  situated,  was  then  com- 
manded by  lieutenant  commandant  Tarbell.  The  fii- 
gate  Constellation,  was  moored  at  the  navy  yard  opposite 
Norfolk,  Mid  it  was  determined  by  commodore  Cassin,  to 
man  fifteen  of  the  gun  boats,  from  the  crew  of  the  Con> 
stellation,  and  to  despatch  them  ageunst  that  frigate  of  tihe 
enemy,  which  was  reported  to  be  three  miles  ahead  of 
the  others.  On  the  19tt,  captain  Tarbell  proceeded 
with  his  boats,  in  two  divisions ;  lieutenant  Gardner  hav- 
ing command  of  the  first,  and  lieutenant  R.  Henly,  of  the 
second.  Tke  prevalence  of  adverse  winds,  prevented 
his  coming  yUhin  reach  of  the  enemy,  until  4  P.  M.  of 
the  20th,  at  which  hour  he  stationed  his  divisions,  and 
commenced  a  rapid  fire,  at  the  distance  of  three  quarters 
of  a  mile.  The  frigate  opened  on  the  boats,  and  the  can- 
nonade continued  half  an  hour,  to  the  great  injury  of  the 
frigate,  (the  Junon)  when  the  other  frigates  were  enabled, 
by  a  fresh  breeze,  to  get  under  weigh,  to  the  assistance 
of  their  companion.  Captain  Tarbell  was  then  obliged 
to  haul  off  to  a  greater  distance,  still,  however,  keeping  up 
ti  well  directed  and  incessant  fire,  upon  the  enemy's  whole 
squadron.  The  first  frigate  was,  by  this  time,  so  much 
injured,  that  her  fire  was  only  occasionally  delivered; 
and,  between  the  others  and  the  gun  boats,  the  cannonade 
was  prolonged  one  hour  longer ;  in  which  time,  several 
heavy  broadsides  were  discharged  at  the  flotilla.  Cap- 
tain Tarbell  then  withdrew  from  th^  engagement,  with 
the  loss  of  one  killed,  Mr.  Allison,  a  master's  mate,  and 

a1.__.      ^*.    J.1.  _     1 x_      _l'„l-ji .__  • »  mt  _     »_i^         - 

supposed  to  have  suflGered  severely.    The  frigate,  first 


.r'-H 


213 

ehgaged,  wfts  so  much  shattered,  that  the  Teasels  whic'it 
came  to  her  assistance,  were  obUged  to  employ  all  their 
hands  to  repair  her.  Inthia  affair,  the  Americana  bad  15 
guns;  the  British,  150  and  upwards.  Captain Tarbcll's 
conduct,  as  well  as  lieutenants  Gardner,  Hetrfr,  and  others 
received  the  fullest  approbation  of  the  surroundunr  garri- 
sons, and  of  the  citizens  of  Norfolk, 

The  firing,  during  this  action,  being  distinctly  heard  by 
Oieenemy's  fleet  m  the  bay,  and  fears  being  entwtainei 
by  the  adnjiMi,  about  the  safety  of  the  three  frigates,  tWiw 
teen  sail  of  the  Ime  of  battle  ships  and  frigates;  were  oi^ 

J^onS^P^f  *®^,*°^*™P^°  ^<>«d^  In  «»«  course  of 
the  20tb,  they  dropped  to  the  mouth  of  James*  River 
where  th^y  learned  the  cause  of  the  recent  cannonade! 
and  determined  on  forthwith  reducing  the  forts  and  Karri- 
sons,  on  which  the  defence  of  Norfolk  depended.  An 
immense  number  of  barges,  were  apparenUy  preparina  for 
an  attack  on  Crany  Island,  the  nearest  obstruction  to  the 
enemy  s  advances.  Captain  Tarbell  directed  lieutenants 
Neale,  Shubrick,  and  Saunders,  each  of  the  Constellation, 
to  land  one  hundred  seamen  on  that  island,  to  man  a  bat- 
tery on  Its  N.  W.  side,  and  disposed  the  gun  boats  so  as 

1^7  ^^  «  •??:  ^'"""^  *^^  ***^^-  A*  *he  dawn  of 
the  22d,  the  British  approached  the  island,  with  their 
barges,  round  the  point  of  Nansemond  Krer,  to  the 
number  of  about  four  thousand  men,  many  of  whom 

r%^'v'^^*  ^T*"  ^'""^  *«  ^^"^^  ""^de  prisoners  by 
the  English,  and  occasionally  received  into  their  se^ 
vice.     The  place  at  which  they  had  chosen  to  land, 
was  out  of  the  reach  of  the  gun  boats,  and  when  they 
ted  approached   within  a  few  hundred  yards   of  the 
shore,  the  gallant  lieutenant  Neale,  assisted  by  Shubrick 
and  Saunders    opened  a  galling  fire  from  his  battoiy, 
Til  ^^P^"^^  **»«  ^nemy  to  make  a  momentary  pausel 
Ihe  battery,  was  manned  altogether  by  one  hundred  and 
my  men,  includmg  lieutenant  Breckenridge  and  his  ma- 
s' uu      '^  Pownder  which  was  stationed  at  it,  was- 
<  ..?^i.        u"^J*  precision,  that  many  of  the  barges  were 
tut  through  the  middle,  and  would  inevitably  have  carried 
flown  the  crew,  but  for  the  immediate  assistance  rendered 
*y  the  others  of  the  squadron.    Every  attemnt  to  an- 
SJ"  me  shore,  having  heretofore  failed,  and  the  ad- 
Sh    *'*>5*'  the  Centipede,    upwards  of  fifty  feet  in 
««noin,  and  filled  with  men,  hem^  pierced  in  so  many 


f4 


te     t      H, 


11     H 


Iri 


2U 

places,  that  she  sunk  as  soon  as  she  was  abandoned, 
the  enemy,  whose  seamen  were  falling  in  every  barge,' 
determined  on  returmng  to  his  shipping  with  as  little  de- 
lay as  possible.  But,  even  in  his  retreltt,  he  suffered  se- 
verely from  the  small  battery. 

Wliilst  this  gallant  resistance  was  made  ^c  his  ap> 
proaches  from  the  water,  by  the  naval  division  on  the 
island,  the  enemy's  troops,  Who  had  landed  on  the  maio 
shore,  and  crossed  a  narrow  inlet  to  the  west  side,  were 
warmly  engaged  with  the  Virginia  volunteers.  Previ- 
ously to  the  movement  of  the  barges,  upwards  of  eight 
hundred  soldiers  had  been  landed  by  the  enemy  at  the 
place  abovementioned,  and  were  already  crossing  the 
inlet,  which,  at  low  water,  is  passable  by  infantry.  Colo- 
nel Beatty,  who  commanded  the  military  division  on  the 
island,  made  instant  and  judicious  preparations  to  receive 
the  enemy.  Under  major  Faulkner,  of  the  artillery,  two 
24  pounders  and  four  6  pounders,  had  been  drawn  iipto 
resist  them.  One  division  of  this  battery  was  command- 
ed by  captain  Emmerson ;  and  two  others,  by  lieutenants 
Howl  and  Godwin.  Tho  enemy's  troops  had  not  all 
landed,  when  this  cannon  was  opened  upon  them  with 
great  address ;  and,  those  which  had  not  crossed  the 
gulph,  were  compelled  to  retreat,  by  the  velocity  and 
precision  of  the  fire.  Those  which  had  already  gained 
the  island,  fell  back  to  its  rear,  and  threw  several  rockets 
from  a  house  which  stood  there;  but  they  were  very  soob 
dislodged  by  one  of  the  gun  boats,  in  which  a  24  pounder 
v/as  brought  to  bear  upon  the  house,  and  with  great  diffi- 
culty escaped  from  the  island;  when,  joining  the  troops  who 
had  been  previously  repulsed,,  they  were  all  conducted 
back  to  the  British  fleet.  When  that  division  of  the  eneinr, 
which  was  composed  of  his  seamen  and  marines,  bad 
been  foiled  in  its  attempt  to  land,  lieutenant  Neale  gave 
directions  iff  his  intrepid  sailors,  to  haul  up  the  boats 
which  had  been  sunk,  and  to  assist  the  British  sailors  and 
marines,  who  were  making,  for  safety,  to  the  shore.  The 
Centipede  was  accordingly  drawn  up,  and  a  small  brass  3 
pounder,  a  number  of  sunall  arms,  a«d  a  quantity  of  pistols 
and  cutlasses,  taken  out  of  her.  Twenty -two  of  her  men, 
came  on  the  island  with  her,  and  surrendered  themsehcF, 

flQ   HAQ^t*roifa  Tn    ^liici-  «irai«ivi    anri     or^iwiin/l      c«iarr*niVATVto'nf      IM. 

which  three  thousand  British  soldierS;  sailors  and  ma- 


lt j 


■|  {• 


■'  6  4 


ailors  and  ma- 


215 

lines,  were  opposed  to  four  hundred  and  eighty  Virfiinia 
mill tia,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  sailors  and  marines ; 
the  loss  on  the  side  of  the  invaders,  in  killed,  wounded, 
and  drowned,  was  upwards  of  two  hundred,  exclusive  of 
forty  deserters;  on  the  side  of  the  invaded,  not  a  man  was 
either  killed  or  wounded. 

By  the  gallant  services  of  the  defenders  of  this  island, 
the  safety  of  the  town  of  Norfolk  was,  for  a  time  at  least,  se- 
cured; and  to  the  intrepid  bravery  and  indefatigable  exeri 
boos  of  heut.  Neale,  and  his  companions,  Shubrick,  Saun- 
dere,  and^Breckenridge ;  of  lieutenant  colonel  Beatty, 
and  his  officers,  major  Faulkner,  captain  Emmerson,  and 
heutenants  Howl  and  Godwin ;  and  two  non-commis- 
sioned volunteers,  sergeant  Young^  and  corporal  Moffit, 
and  the  vahant  men,  who  assisted  in  the  defence  of  the 
island,  the  gratitude  of  the  citizens  of  Norfolk,  and  the 
surroundidfT  town^,  Portsmouth,  Gosport,  and  others,  has 
been  frequently  mWfested.  ' 

Immediately  after  this  repulse  of  the  British,  a  con- 
ference was  held  between  admirals  Warren  and  Cock- 
burn  and  sir  Sidney  Beckwith;  the  result  of  which  was, 
a  determina lion  to  avenge  the  loss  they  had  sustained 
and  to  facilitate  the  success  of  their  next  attempt,  by 
cutting  off  the  communication  between  the  upper  pa -t  of 
Virginia  and  the  borough  of  Norfolk.  This  comrnuni- 
cation,  they  supposed  to  be  entirely  commanded  by  the 
small  garrison  at  Hampton,  an  inconsiderable  town,  eigh- 
teen miles  distant  from  Norfolk,  and  separated  from  it  by 
Hampton  Roads.  Their  troops,  exasperated  at  the  fail- 
ure of  the  recent  expedition  against  Crany  Island,  were 
we  J  disposed  to  retaliate  the  consequences  of  a  repulse  ; 
and  their  commanders,  availing  themselves  of  the  intem- 
perate spirit,  which  was  manifested  throughout  the  fleet, 
resolved  on  forwarding  an  expedition  against  this  weak 
position,  with  the  least  possible  delay.  All  things  being 
reacy,  upon  their  part,  they  proceeded  on  the  25th,  three 
J^iys  alter  the  late  engagement,  with  upwards  of  two 
nousand  men,  in  a  large  squadron  of  their  principal 
barges.  Of  these,  the  102d  regiment,  two  companies  of 
tanaUian  chasseurs,  and  three  companies  of  marines, 

ihe  remainder  of  the   troops,  consisted  of  royal  ma- 
rine battalions,  under  lieutenant  colonel  Williams;   the 

■■M    ■ 


iw.J;''  M 


i'l 


'■ft  ,^^L  I 


whole  commanded  by  sir  Sidney.  A  number  of  launches 
and  rocket  boats,  filled  with  sailors,  and  covered  by 
the  sloop  of  war  Mohawk,  captain  Pechell,  were  com- 
manded by  admiral  Cockburn,  and  directed  to  take  a 
station  before  the  town,  to  throw  in  the  rockets,  and 
keep  up  a  constant  cannonade,  whilst  the  troops  under 
sir  Sidney,  should  land  at  a  distance  of  several  miles  be- 
low the  town,  and  gain  the  rear  of  the  undisciplined  Ame- 
rican militia.  The  plan  of  operations  being  thus  ar- 
ranged, the  movement  was  commenced,  at  the  dawn  of 
day ;  and,  with  this  irresistible  force  and  equipment,  the 
enemy  proceeded  to  assault  a  garrison,  of  349  infaa- 
try  and  rifle,  62  artillerymen,  with  four  12'8  and  three  6's, 
and  27  '•avalry ;  making  in  all,  a  force  of  438  men. 

On  (  approach  of  that  division  of  the  enemy,  which 
was  to  attack  from  the  water,  major  Crutchfield,  the  com- 
mandant at  Hampton,  immediately  formed  his  troops,  on 
Littlje  England  Plantation,  which  was  divided  from  the 
town  by  a  narrow  creek,  over  which  a  slight  bridge  had 
been  previously  constructed.  The  enemy's  barges  ^vere 
approaching  this  creek,  and  keeping  up  a  fire  of  round 
shot,  until  they  gained  Blackbeard  Point,  when  the  four 
12  pounders  were  opened  upon  them,  with  so  much  ef- 
fect, that  admiral  Cockburn  thought  it  advisable  to  draw 
back  and  shelter  himself  behind  the  point.  Thence  he 
continued  to  throw  his  rockets,  and  12'3  and  18*s,  nearly 
an  hour,  without  doing  the  smallest  injury  to  the  encamp- 
ment; his  shot  either  falling  short  of  his  object,  or  going 
over  it. 

Meantime  sir  Sidney  had  landed,  and  was  coming  do\vn 
the  great  road,  on  tlie  rear  of  the  Americans,  when  major 
Crutchfield  being  apprized  of  his  march,  had  despatched 
a  rifle  company,  under  captain  Servant,  to  conceal  them- 
selves in  a  wood,  near  which  the  invaders  would  be 
obliged  to  pass.  Captain  Servant  executed  his  orders 
with  the  utmost  precision,  and  annoyed  the  advancing 
British  column,  with  great  severity.  But,  his  force  was 
too  inefficient,  to  sustain  a  contest  of  any  length  of  time; 
and  major  Crutchfield,  seeing  that  the  barges  would  not 
approach  until  they  knew  of  the  arrival  of  sir  Sidney 

Wifhin  fhp  r.flmn     t\re>ar  nut  fho  infanfnvr  Fnnit^a  tn  41ia  ai/l 

of  the  riflemen,  and  to  prevent  the  enemy's  cutting  off 
his  retreat.     As  this  portion  of  the  Americans  were 


217 

mrchiiig  in  column  near  a  defile,  which  led  to  Celev'a 
Road,  they  were  fired  upon  by  the  enemy's  muakeSs 
from  a  thick  wood  at  200  yards  distance.  MaTo"  Cnit^^^^^^ 
field  inimediately  wheeled  his  column  into  iLe  «„h 
Djarched  towards  the  thicket  to  return"he  fire  ^d  ^t 
the  enemy.  He  had  not  advanced  fifty  yari?beforeZ 
British  delivered  him  a  fire  from  two  6  poimdirs  accom 
panied  by  an  unexpected  discharge  of  rockets  BeZ 
aow  apprized  of  the  danger  of  preceding  Si  L  S 
tion  against  ordnance,  with  so  small  a  foScV,  he  wheeT^ 
jgam  into  column,  and  attempted  to  g Jn  a  p^sa!^ 
through  the  defile,  in  the  woods  at  the  extremitv  of  S*^k 

^  „,?Hil  -^  •  *"  *«P'»y«<i.  but  he  succeeded  at  lengUi 
n  puttug  ,  in  marching  order,  and  proceeded  to  the  d^ 
file.  Captain  Cooper,  with  the  cavaJry,  was  at  U,U  mf 
meat  engaged  with  the  enemy's  left  Sik^^d  ^.J^k* 
stoding  the  faUgue  which  Ws  t  oop^Sad  Av  S^" 
j»nced,  m  patroling,  he  annoyed  toem  so  iWsrfX 
Hat  the  British  general,  augmenting  the  streS  of  ttat 
talks  issued  a  direction  to  cut  him  off  fo  tte  the  e™ 
my  did  not  succeed;  and  captain  Cooler.  dilwinsuDWs 

Srandtter-""  ""^'''  ^'  ^^^ 

j^rpTsr/'thrKe'"^^^^^^ 

«  from  the  enemy's  6  pounders.  It  hTjusta"SS 
Ihe  wood,  on  tlie  left  of  the  riflemen  whin  «  S  « 
pounder  opened  upon  it,  and,  in Tn^n  wift  le 

S'  h.       ."""  """'■"''""•  *«  *«•«"'»'  complies  of 
irtich  the  column  was  composed.      Several  nlatoom 

Z:^l^i^.f  ?>?"'' ?"'''■'  •»"•  "-o-whil'w:" 
nearei  the  head  of  tlie  column,  led  on  bymaior  Cmfa-h 

field  and  major  Corbin,  wheeled  with grea^Smenl  too 
RUe  captains,  Shield  and  Herndon,  kept  up  Uie  action 

the wirhTf  'P","'  """'  "  "«'  ^«««<»'  necessar^  for 

leftS.      ''^ '"  "'"'''"'•    ^'^P'""  P-yor.  who  had  been 
'eilinthe  encampment  with  the  «rt,ii.A,  i ..•_".. 

unmiT    M  ^''f'Y  '  ^^'^^^'  ••«^'s'«**  their  approaches 
until  the  sailors  had  landed  in  front  of  the  town,  and  ^e 


r  0  i 


British  troops  were  in  his  rear.  They  had  already  ad- 
Tanced  within  sixty  yards  of  his  battery;  his  corps  were 
ready  to  yield  themselves  up  as  prisoners  of  war,  and  the 
poyal  marines  were  preparing  to  take  them.  They  saw 
no  possibility  of  escaping,  until  their  gallant  commander 
gave  an  order  to  spike  the  guns,  and  break  through  the 
enemy's  rear.  Intrepid  as  himself,  they  executed  his 
commands ;  and,  pressing  furiously  through  the  British 
marines,  whom  they  threw  into  a  temporary  derange- 
ment, found  their  further  escape  obstructed,  by  the  creeii. 
Captain  Pryor,  still  determined  on  retiring  beyond  the 
enemy's  reach,  threw  himself  into  the  creek,  and  com- 
manding his  men  to  follow,  with  their  carbines,  effected 
the  retreat  of  his  corps  in  good  order,  and  without  an  indi- 
vidual loss.  Such  was  the  disparity  of  force,  when  the 
barge  crews,  and  the  troops  of  the  enemy,  had  effected 
a  union,  that  the  retreat  of  the  whole  American  detach- 
ment, became  indispensible,  and  major  Crutchfield  gave 
an  order  to  that  effect.  The  British  general  pursued  the 
retreating  column  about  two  miles,  without  effecting  any 
purpose,  though  the  latter  frequently  halted,  formed  be- 
hind fences,  and  delivered  a  smart  fire. 

The  American  ^38,  in  this  action,  amounted  to  seven 
killed,  twelve  wounded,  eleven  missing,  and  one  prisoner 

total,  31.    The  British  loss,  by  the  acknowledgement 

of  many  of  their  officers,  amounted  to  ninety  killed,  and 
one  hundred  and  twenty  wounded — total,  210.  Among 
these,  were  one  colonel  and  one  captain  of  marines, 
killed;  and  three  lieutenants,  wounded.  Admiral  Wa^ 
ren's  official  letter,  however,  allows  but  five  killed,  thirty- 
three  wounded,  and  ten  missing — total,  48. 

If  the  account  of  the  affair  at  Haihpton,  could  be 
closed,  by  no  further  reference  than  to  the  gallantry  of 
captains  Ashly,  Cary,  Miller,  and  Brown,  of  the  militia; 
captain  Goodall,  of  the  United  States'  artillery,  and  lien- 
tenants  Anderson,  Armistead,  and  Jones,  who  were  all 
conspicuously  engaged  in  it ;  a  painful  recital  would  have 
been  spared,  of  occurrences  disgraceful  to  the  arms  of 
the  enemy,  unjustified  by  the  principles  of  civilized  war- 
fare, and  unparalleled,  even  by  the  enormities  committed 
on  the  north-western  frontier.  The  troops  under  sir  Sid- 
ney, and  the  sailors  under  admiral  Cockburn,  no  sooner 
found  themselves  in  possession  of  the  town  of  HainptoH» 


in 

Iban  they  indulged  in  a  system  of  pillage;  aot  less  indis- 
cnmiiiate  than  that  which,  had  attended  the  visit  of  most 
of  the  same  men,  to  Havre  de  Grace.    To  these  acts  of 
cruelty  and  oppression  upon  the  unresisting  and  innocent 
inhabitants,  they  added  others  of  the  most  atrocious  and 
lawless  nature,  the  occurrence  of  which,  hao  been  proved 
by  the  solemn  affirmation  of  the  most  respectable  pcoplfs 
of  thai  country.    Age,  innocence,  nor  sex,  could  protect 
the  inhabitants,  whose  inability  to  escape  obliged  them  to 
throw   themselves  upon  the  mercy  of  the  conquerors. 
The  persons  of  the  women  were  indiscriminately  violated. 
The  brutal  desires  of  an  abandoned  and  profligate  soldiery, 
were  gratified,  within  the  view  of  those  who  alone  pos- 
sessed the  power  and  authority  to  restrain  them;  and, 
inany  of  the  unfortunate  females,  who  had  extricated 
themselves  from  one  party,  were  pursued,  overtaken,  and 
possessed  by  another.     Wives  were  torn  from  the  sides 
of  their  wounded  husbands;    mothers  and  daughters 
Btripped  of  their  clothing  in  the  presence  of  each  other  • 
and,  those  who  had  fled  to  the  river  side,  and  as  a  last 
rciige  had  plunged   into  the   water,   with  their  infant 
children  m  their  arms,  were  driven  again,  at  the  point  of 
the  bayonet,  upon  the  shore,  where,  neither  their  own  en- 
treaties and  exertions,  nor  the  cries  of  their  offsprine 
could  restrain  the  remorseless  cruelty  of  the  insatiable 
enemy,  who  paraded  the  victim  of  his  lust  through  the 
public  streets  of  the  town.    An  old  man,  whose  infirmi- 
ties had  drawn  him  to  the  very  brink  of  the  grave    was 
murdered  in  the  arms  of  his  wife,  almost  as  infirm  as 
himself,  and  her  remonstrance  was  followed  by  the  dis- 
charge of  a  pistol  into  her  breast.    The  wounded  miUtia 
who  had  crawled  from  the  field  of  battle  to  the  miUtary 
hospital,  were  treated  with  no  kind  of  tenderness,  even 
by  the  enemy's  officers,  and  the  common  wants  of  na- 
ture were  rigorously  denied  to  them.     To  these  tran- 
scendant  enormities,  were  added  the  wanton  and  profli- 
gate  destrucUon  not  only  of  the  medical  stores,  but  of  the 
physicians   drug-rooms  and  laboratories;    from  which 
only,  those  who  had  been  wounded  in  battle,  and  those 
upon  whose  persons  these  outrages  had  been  committed 
could  obtain  that  assistance,  without  which,  ihe^  m.,  J 
inevitabiy  sutter  the  severest  privations. 

tJ 


il 


sto 


iff    '^J. 


'ifl    , 


Tiro  daysftoH  nigMs,  were  thus  coneumed  by  the  Bri- 
tish soldiers,  sAilors  and  marines;  and,  their  separate 
commanders,  were  all  that  time  quartered  in  the  only 
house,  the  furniture  and  Interior  decorations  of  which 
escaped  dedtruction.    On  the  morning  of  the  27th,  at 
sunrise,  apprehtensions  being  entertained  of  an  attack 
fVom  tlie  neighbouring  militia,  whom,  it  was  reasonably 
conjectured,   the  recital  of  these    transactions    would 
rouse  into  immediate  action,  the  British  forces  were 
ordered  to  embark ;  and,  in  the  course  of  that  morn- 
ing, they  departed  firom  the  devoted  town,  which  will 
immemorially  testify  to  the  unprovoked  and  unrelenting 
cruelty   of  tlie  British  troops.     They  had  previously 
carried  off   the  ordnance  which    had  been  employed 
in  the  defence  of  the  town,  as  trophies  of  (heir  vic- 
tory 5  but,  when  they  determined  on  withdrawing  from 
tiie  place,  they  moved  away  with  such  precipitation,  that 
eeveiral  hundred  weight  of  provisions,  a  quantity  of  mus 
kets  and  ammuniUon,  and  some  of  their  men  were  left 
behind,  and  captured  on  the  following  day  by  captain 
Cooper's  cavalry.     Having  abandoned  their  intentions  of 
proceeding  to  another  attempt  on  the  defences  of  No^ 
folk,  the  whole  fleet  stood  down  to  a  position  at  New- 
Point-Comfort,  where  they  proposed  watering,  previously 
lo  Iheir  departure  from  the  bay,  on  an  expedition  against 
IL  town  in  one  of  the  eastern  states. 

(Such  was  the  agitation  of  the  public  mind  throughout 
iV^irginia,  which  succeeded  the  circulation  of  the  ac- 
count of  the  assault  on  Hampton,  that  representations 
were  made  to  general  Robert  R.  Taylor,  the  com- 
zaandant  of  the  district,  of  the  necessity  of  learning 
^m  the  commanders  of  the  British  fleet  and  army, 
whether  the  outrages  which  had  been  committed, 
would  be  avowed,  or  the  perpetrators  punished.— 
That  able  oft>-er,  immediately  despatched  liis  aid  to  ad- 
admiral  Warren  with  a  cartel  for  the  exchange  of  prison- 
ers, and  a  protest  against  the  proceedings  of  the  Bri- 
^sh  troops,  in  which  he  stated,  that  "  the  world  would 
suppose  those  acts  to  have  been  approved,  if  not  ex- 
cited, which  should  be  passed  over  with  impunity  f* 
that  he  "  thought  it  no  less  due  to  his  own  personal  ho- 
nour, than  to  that  of  his  country,  to  repress  and  punisii 
every  excess ;"  that  "it  wo^d  depend  on  b'TJ,  (Warren) 


tl 


221 

whether  the  evils  inseparable  fromBatate  of  war,  should, 
in  future  operaUons,  be  tempered  by  the  mildness  of  ci- 
vilized life,  or  uni ler  the  admiral's  authority,  be  aggravated 
by  all  the  fiend-like  passions  which  could  be  instilled  into 
them.      To  this  protest,  admiral  Warren  replied,  that  he 
would  refer  it  to  sir  Sidney  Beckwith,  to  whose  discretion 
he  Bubmitted  the  necessity  of  an  answer.    Sir  Sidney^ 
not  only  freely  avowed,  but  justified,   the  commission 
of  the  excesses  complained  of;  and  induced  the  Ame- 
rjcan  commander  to  believt  tlie  report  of  deserters, 
that  a  promise  had  been  made  to  the  fleet  of  indi* 
Tidual  bounty,  of  the  phinder  of  the  tow».   m4  cUf 
fterizHssitn  to  commit  the  same  acts,  if  tbey  Micee«<k4  in 
the  captwa  of  Norfolk.    Sir  Sidney  stated,  that  •♦Me 
mesm  at  Hampton,  of  which  generai  Taytor  ©om- 
ptamed^  T ^  *»^^^»*^ed  %  a  pifoeeeding  ui  Cranu  blwid. 
That  at  ^e  recent  attack  oa  that  pkice,  the  troops,  in  a 
hirge,  which  had  been  sunk  1^  the  fire  of  the  Anusriean 
IHiw,  had  been  fired  on  t^r  a  partg^r  of  Americans,  who 
waded  out  and  shot  these  poor  fellows,  whUe  clinfiinff  to 
«ie  wreck  of  the  boat;  waA  thai  mik  afifHng  noHu-al 

S      ,  *»^*^***$J«^'  ^^  ^^  ^  ^^  «»y*  famfed  at 
Hampton:*    The  British  general  expressed  also  a  wioh 
that  such  scenes  should  not  occur  again,  and  that  the  sub- 
ject might  be  entirely  at  rest    The  American  general. 
however,  alive  to  the  reputation  of  the  arms  of  his  coun, 
try,  refused  to  let  it  rest,  and  immediately  instituted  « 
court  of  enquiry,  composed  of  old,  and  unprejudiced 
officers.     The  result  of  a  long  and  careful  inveati- 
gauon,  which  was  forwarded  to  sir  Sidney  Beckwitk 
was,   that  none  of  the   enemy    had   been    fired  o7 
after  the  wreck  of  the  barge,  except  a  soldier,  who 
had  attempted  to  escape  to  tliat  division  of  the  British 
troops  which    had    landed,    that  be  was   not  killed, 
and  that  so  far  from  shooting  either  of  those  unfortu- 
nate men,  the  American  troops  had  waded  out  to  their 
assistance.    To  thja  report,  sir  Sidney  never  deemed  it 
necessary  to  reply,  and^  the  outrages  at  Hampton  are  stiU 
unatoned.    Many  of  the  unhappy  victims  died,  of  wound? 
and  bruises  inflicted  on  them,  in  their  stru^les  to  es- 
!!!!!l^^"*^  ^^^  *«  aiedical  ekUl  of  the  aurroonduif 


■^Vii 


uiry, 


./<< 


;  f  : 


'*J 


-.!-« 


jr*i. 


'**^«!'i!-' 


'I#i  ' 


ff; 


CHAFTBR  XV. 

BHtUh  land  at  Ocracoke  and  Portsmouth'^^Capture  two 
Letters  of  Marque— Distribution  of  Admiral  Warren's 
Fleet—United  States*  Schooner  Asp— A  Fishing  Sn  Jc, 
the  Yankee^  captures  the  British  Tender^  the  Eagk-^ 
The  FrigaUs  United  States  and  Macedonian^  and  S!oop 
Hornet,  blockaded  at  New  London— Midshipman  Ten 
^yfCe — The  British  at  Saybrook — Engagement  in  Con- 
necticut Sound — Wareham  and  Scituate — Occupation 
of  Easiport,  Moose  Island— Attack  upon  Stonington— 
British  claim  the  Territory  east  of  the  Penobscot,  and 
occupy  Castine—Loss  ff  the  United  States*  Frigate 
Adums^ 

RELINQUISHING  the  contemplated  attack  upon  one 
»f  the  eastern  ports,  and  adopting  a  plan  of  operations 
against  the  towns  and  harbours  to  the  southward  of  tliose 
which  had  aheady  been  assailed,   vdmiral  Warren  de- 
iiched  the  largest  proportion  of  his  fleet,  under  rear  ad- 
Viiral  Cockburn,  to  proceed  on  an  expedition  against 
Ocracokc  and  Portsmouth,  two  flourishing  harbours,  in 
the  state  of  North  Carolina.    Early  in  July,  a  force  of 
eleven  sail  appeared  ofi*  the  first  of  those  places ;  and,  on 
the  13th  of  that  month,  the  rear  admiral  crossed  the 
bar  with  a  great  number  of  barges,  attacked  two  letters 
of  marque,  the  Anaconda  of  New  York,  aud  the  Atlass  of 
Philadelphia,  and  after  being  gallantly  resisted  by  the  small 
crews  of  those  vessels,  carried  them  by  boarding.    The 
Revenue  Cutter,  which  was  then  in  the  harbour,  effected 
her  escape,  conveyed  intelligence  to  Newbern  of  the  ap- 
proach of  the  enemy,  and  thus  frustrated  the  remainder  of 
the  admiral's  plans.  About  three  thousand  men,  were  then 
landed  at  Portsmouth,  wliere  they  destroyed  the  prwate 


2i3 

property  of  tht  inhabitants,  and  truhteH  the  place  with  no 
more  farbea.ance  than  they  had  shewn  at  Georgetown 
and  Fredericktown.  The  collector  of  the  customs  wfts 
eelzed  and  taken  on  board  the  fleet,  and  the  building  de- 
stroyed in  which  his  office  was  contained.  After  remaining 
two  days  m  possession  of  these  places,  the  enemy  re- 
turned to  his  sliipping;  and,  not  feeling  himself  competent 
to  Iho  attack  on  Newbern,  now  that  its  citizens  were  pre- 
paring to  receive  him,  he  departed  with  his  squadron  from 
Ocracoke,  and  sailed  again  for  Chesapeake  Buy. 

The  fleet,  which  had  been  keeping  up  the  blockade  in 
those  waters,  had  been  divided  by  admiral  Warren,  and 
the  (htfcrent  vessels  distributed  along  the  coast,  from  New 
London  to  Cape  Henry,  to  watch  the  entrances  to  the 
harbours  of  ConnecUcut,  New  York,  and  the  Delaware. 
In  the  Chesapeake,  no  further  assaults  were  made  upon 
the  villages;  but,  the  farm  houses,  the  neighbouring 
country  seats,  and  the  stock  upon  the  lands,  and  the 
numerous  islands  which  could  be  approached  by  the 
smallest  barges,  were  indiscriminately  plundered.  Such 
islands  were  taken  possession  of,  as  aflbrded  quarters  for 
the  troops,  and  frequent  excursions  made  from  them 
against  the  defenceless  landholders,  in  their  vicinity. 

On  the  14th,  the  United  States'  schooners  Scorpion  and 
Asp,  being  under  weigh  from  the  mouth  of  Yeocomico 
River,  were  pursued  by  two  of  the  enemy's  sloops  of 
war ;  and,  tinding  it  impossible  for  both  vessels  to  escape 
through  the  bay,   the  Scorpion  continued  her  course 
while  the  Asp,  a  dull  sailing  vessel,  returned  to  the  river* 
and  was  run  into  Kinsale  Creek,  by  her  commander* 
sailing  master  Segourney.     The  enemy's  vessels  anchor- 
ed near  the  bar,  and  despatched  three  barges,  filled  with 
armed  men,  to  assault  and  carry  her.    As  these  were  ap- 
proaching, Mr.  Segourney  opened  a  well  directed  fire, 
and  compelled  them,  in  a  little  time,  to  return.    Rein- 
forced, however,  by  two  other  barges,  manned  in  like 
manner,  they  again  approached  the  schooner,  and  carried 
aerby  boarding,  though  obstinately  resisted  by  her  little 
crew,  to  whom  they  refused  to  shew  quarter.    Her  com- 
mander had  been  shot  through  the  body  by  a  musket 
owl,  and  was  sitting  on  the  deck  agidnst  the  mast,  wfei^n 
ihey  carried  her,  and  brought  down^her  colours.    In  this 
attitude,  aad  sttflferipg  under  the  severity  of  U^  woBud, 

U  2 


1?^  ' 


t     • 
I- 


'  :j 


:ii 


284 

he  was,  at  ttiat  moment,  animatiitg  his  men,  to  repel  thf> 
boarders,  when  one  of  the  British  marines,  stcpt  up  and 
«hot  him  through  the  head.  He  expired  instnntiy,  and, 
the  next  officer,  Mr.  M*Clintock,  seeing  what  would  be 
the  probable  fate  of  the  whole  crew,  ordered  his  men  to 
eave  themselves  by  flight.  Those,  who  had  not  previ- 
ously been  wounded,  reached  the  shore,  in  safety  ;  and 
the  enemy  having  set  fire  to  the  schooner,  retiirned  to  the 
eqnadron,  though  not  before  they  had  been  fired  upon  by 
a  collection  of  militia,  who  retook  the  vessel,  and  extin- 
guished the  flames. 

The  Poictiers  74,  still  commanded  by  sir  John  P.  Be- 
resford,  had  been  stationed  for  several  weeks  at  Sandy 
Hook,  for  the  purpose  of  blockading  the  harbour  of  New 
York.  Numbers  of  small  vessels,  had  been  daily  cap- 
tured by  her;  and,  one  of  them,  the  sloop  Eagle,  was 
converted  into  a  tender  to  the  line  of  battle  ship,  manned 
with  two  officers  and  eleven  marines,  and  equipped  with 
a  32  brass  howitzer.  She  was  constantly  employed  in 
the  pursuit  and  capture  of  the  coasters,  and  had  already 
committed  various  depredations.  Commodore  Jacob 
Lewis,  who  commanded  a  flotilla  of  thirty  sail  of  gun 
boats,  determined  on  protecting  the  fishing  boats  and  river 
craft,  by  the  capture  of  this  tender.  He,  accordingly, 
hired  a  fishing  smack,  called  the  Yankee,  and  placing 
about  thirty  men  on  board,  under  one  of  his  sailing  mas- 
ters, (Percival)  and,  supplying  him  with  several  articles 
of  live  stock,  gave  him  instructions  to  proceed  from  the 
hook,  in  the  direction  of  the  banks,  with  his  armed  men 
concealed  in  the  cabin  and  fore  peak.  The  sloop 
Eagle,  upon  discovering  her  at  the  hook,  immediately 
gave  chace  ;  and,  on  seeing  the  live  stock,  ordered  the 
man  at  the  helm,  Mr.  Percival,  who  (with  two  men  only 
on  deck,)  was  dressed  in  the  apparel  of  a  fisherman,  to 
steer  for  tfie  74,  then  laying  at  a  distance  of  five  miles. 
The  fishing  smack  had  her  helm  immediately  put  up,  for 
that  apparent  purpose ;  and,  being  by  this  means  brought 
along  side,  and  within  three  yards,  of  the  Eagle,  her 
commander  gave  the  signal,  "  Laivrencey"  and  her  men 
rushed  up,  with  such  rapidity,  and  discharged  so  brisk  and 
unexpected  a  fire,  that  the  crew  of  the  Eagle,  became 
panic  struck,  and  many  of  them  ran  below.  Her  com- 
mander, sailing  master  Morris,  and  one  marine,  were 


tl5 

killed;   and,  midshipman  Price,  and  another,  mortalltr 
wounded.    Percival's  men  were  prepared  for  a "e^Jj 
discharge     when  a  sailor  on  the   enemy's  deck   wm 
seen  creeping  to  the  howitzer  with  a  liehtcd  mateh  Ztl 
0  the  crew  of  the  Yankee,  levelled  hifl' kTt  L'nd  shTt 
hira  in  the  breast,  and,  in  a  second  after,  the  flag  of  the 
Eagle  came  down.    The  sloop  and  the  prisoners  were 
then  taken  into  the  hook,  and  delivered  to  the  comm^! 
dore    who  proceeded  with  them  to  New  York    Xm 
Morris,   and   Price,  (who   died  immediately  after^ndT- 
jng,)  were  buried  by  the  naval  and  military  authoriUes 
Mr.  Percval  was  promoted  to  the  new  sloop  of  war  Pea 
cock  and  the  brass  howitzer  was  transferred  to  Sie  quar- 
ter deck  of  the  commodore's  flag  boat.  ^ 

In  consequence  of  commodore  Decatur's  havinir  nr- 
ceeded  v,ith  the  frigates  United  States  anS  IvLceSL*^^^^^ 
and  the  sloop  of  war  Hornet,  through  the  sound,  to  ge  to 
sea  from  the  eastward,  and  of  his  having  been  driven 
with  his  squadron,  into  New  London,  by  a  superior  de' 
tachment  of  the  enemy's  ships,  that  port  was  rigorouslv 
blockaded,  by  the  Ramilies  74,  two  frigates,  and  severS 
smaller  vessels,  under  commodore  sir  Thomas  M.  Hardy 
Every  effort  to  get  to  sea,   under  the  auspices  of  dafk 
nights   and  favourable  winds,  having  proved  unavailing. 
nnrTn?T"^  '^  the  enemy's  being  continually  ap- 
w„f h.  V  f  aT^""'  "^  *^^  American  commodore;  he 
was  blockaded  for  many  months,  without  a  prospect  ot 
escaping,  either  by  the  ordinary  channel,  orbyCound 
Between  detached  parties  from  each  squidron^  several  a^ 
fairs  of  minor  importance  took  place,  during  the  block- 
ade;  and,  in  one  of  them,  midshipman  TenEyke  of  the 
United  States'  frigate,  made  prisoners  of  two  ifeutenante 
two  warrant  officers,  and  tive  seamen,  in  I  ZlToi 
Gardner's    Island.      Incursions  into  the   neighbouring 
ho^^h'^T   ?«*»"«»*'    f«>"^    the   British  forles;    but^ 
though  extensive  numbers  of  shipping  were  <lestroyed 
^e  conduct  of  the  sailors  and  mariies  under  sir  Thorns 
Hardy^   was  not   marked   by  the  indiscriminate  com- 
mission  of  unrestrained  and  wanton  outrage,  of  which 
there  were  too  many  incidents,   on  the  Last  t^lSe 

southward:     anH    ih^   h^..c^^    ^e\u^     m.^^        .       .„     "^ 

iLZ   L^  individual  property,  were,  therefore,  almost 
^variably    respected.       The   genml   deportie^t  Tf 


h     n 


n 


if 

h 


r  -^ 


'     <!' 


226 

commodore  Hardy,  was  that  of  a  brave,  humane,  and 
gallaut  enemy ;  and  had  his  conduct  been  emulated  by 
other  commanders,  the  horrors,  and  distressed  conditions 
of  a  state  of  war,  would  have  been  ameliorated  on  both 
sides ;  and,  the  necessity  of  many  instances  of  retaliatory 
measures,  might  never  have  existed. 

During  the  winter  months  of  1813<14,  scarcely  an 
event  of  consequence  took  place,  on  any  part  of  the 
coast,  or  at  any  of  the  shores  of  the  bay  and  rivers,  in 
which  the  enemy's  vessels  wore  anchored.  The  town  of 
Killingworth,  alone,  had  an  opportunity  of  repelling  three 
or  four  distinct  attempts  to  land,  and  of  beating  off  supc 
rior  Dumbers,  in  British  barges. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1814,  however,  the  enemy  made 
several  movements,  indicative  of  his  intentions  to  pursue 
an  active  course  of  warfare.    On  the  7th  of  April,  about 
two  hundred  sailors  and  marines,  entered  Conrecticnt 
River,  in  a  number  of  barges,  and  landed  at  the  town  of 
Saynrook,  where  they  spiked  the  guns  at  a  small  bat- 
tery,  and  destroyed  many   trading  vessels.      Thence 
they  ascended  the  river,  to  Brockway's  Perry,  destroyed 
all  the  shipping  there,  and  amused  themselves,  without 
any  apprehensions  of  an  attack,  upwards  of  twenty-four 
hours.     In  the  mean  time,  a  body  of  militia  had  assem- 
bled, under  command  of  a  brigadier  general  of  Connec- 
ticut ;  one  hundred  men,  atid  several  field  pieces,  were 
stationed  on  the  opposite  shore,  and  two  pieces  and  a 
party  of  men,  on  the  ferry  side  below;   captain  Jones, 
and  lieutenant  commandant  Biddle  of  the  Hornet,  arrived 
with  a  detachment  of  sailors  from  the  squadron ;  and, 
every  thing  was  arranged  for  the  capture  of  the  whole 
party  of  the  enemy.    The  success  of  the  plan  was  inevi- 
table; the  word  only  of  the  general  commanding  was 
waited  for ;  and,  as  he  was  making  other  arrangements, 
than  those  adopted  by  these  experienced  officers,  the 
enemy  drifted  down  the  river,  with  muffled  oars,  under 
cover  of  a  dark  night,  cheered  loudly,  when  they  had 
passed  the  town  of  Saybro(^,  and  escaped  to  the  squad- 
roHj  after  destroying  200,000  dollars  worth  of  shipping. 
Several  shot  were  fired  after  them,  but  without  effect. 

About  this  time,  the  Li\erpool  Packet  privateer  was 
cniising,  with  great  success,  against  the  American  com- 
merce m  Uie  jsound,  imd  bad  already  umojed  the  coa»^ 


227 


ing  trade,  to  an  enormous  extent.    Unless  this  cruiser 
was  driven  from  the  sound,  no  coaster  could  sail  from 
one  port  to  another,  with  any  assuranc  es  of  safety .     Com- 
mo(^re  Lewis,  determined  on  an  expedition  against  her. 
He  sailed  with  a  detachment,  consisting  of  thirteen  of  his 
gun  boats,  drove  the  privateer  from,  the  mouth  of  the 
harbours  in  the  sound,  and  proceeded  to  Black  Rock, 
New  Haven,  and  Saybrook.    At  the  latter  place,  he  an- 
chored on  the  23d  of  May,  and  found  upwards  of  forty 
sail  of  coasting  vessels,  laying  there,  bound  eastward,  but 
the  masters  of  which  were  fearful  of  the  privateer  and  the 
enemy's  barges.    The  commodore  was  applied  to  for 
convoy;  and,  though  he  knew  not,  whether  he  could 
yield  any  kind  of  protection,  against  a  frigate,  a  corvette 
and  an  armed  sloop,  at  that  moment  in  the  passage  before 
New  London,  he  took  the  coasters  under  cor  oy,  and 
agreed  to  throw  himself  between  them  and  the  enemy. 
On  the  25th,  he  accordingly  sailed  with  the  convoy, 
hound  for  New  London,  and  at  5,  P.  M.  came  to  action 
with  a  frigate,  a  sloop  of  war,  and  a  tender,  and  continued 
the  engagement,  until  all  the  coasters  had  safely  passed 
the  enemy  and  arrived  at  New  London.    This  being 
done,  although  the  whole  object  of  his  attack  was  achiev- 
ed, commodore  Lewis  determined  upon  trying  the  further 
effect  of  his  hot  shot.    The  boate  were  each  supplied  with 
a  furnace ;  and,  whilst  they  were  pouring  hot  balls  into 
the  enemy's  sides,  and  frequently  setting  him  on  fire,  they 
received  in  turn,  scarcely  a  shot  from  either  of  his  vessels. 
Gun  boat  No.  6,  was  alone  injured ;  and,  being  struck  be- 
tween wind  and  water,  was  immediately  grounded,  to 
prevent  her  sinking.    The  sloop  of  war  had,  by  this  time^ 
withdrawn  from  the  engagement;  and,  the  fire  of  the  gun 
boats,  was  principally  directed  against  the  frigate.     She 
was  observed,  several  times,  to  be  on  fire ;  one  shot  pass- 
ed through  her  very  near  the  magazine,  seventeen  of  her 
men  were  already  killed,  and  a  lieutenant  and  a  great 
number  of  men,  wounded ;  and,  the  captain  was  on  the 
point  of  surrendering,  when  he  dit^covered  that  the  gun 
boats  had  ceased  firing.    The  night  closed  in  immedi- 
ately, was  excessively  dark,  and  the  commodore  found 


■^A  t^ 


aTili    fcCuiiUUitre 


UlC 


enemy,  until  next  morning.     He  intended  to  board  the 
sloop,  but  she  was  stationed  between  the  two  ships,  and 


22$ 


M'      i 


that  project  was  therefore  useless.  At  day  light,  ob- 
serving the  enemy  towing  away  their  vessels,  and  re- 
treating, he  instantly  made  signal  for  pursuit ;  bt|t,  the  re- 
port of  the  cannonade,  had  broug|it  the  whole  British 
force,  consisting  of  seven  large  sail)  to  tlieir  assistance, 
and  the  commodore  abandoned  his  intention  of  renewing 
the  action,  and  proceeded  up  the  sound  to  New  York, 
with  the  enemy  in  his  rear,  as  far  as  Faulkner's  Island* 
The  loss  on  board  the  flotilla,  was  one  man,  by  the 
ncoiling  of  a  gun.  The  frigate  was  supposed  to  be  the 
Maidstone,  of  38,  and  mounting  40  gun»j  but  several 
sailors  who  deserted  from  her,  and  were  in  this  action, 
leported  her  to  be  the  Hotspiy,  of  the  same  force.  The 
ccmsequenceftof  ttiis  engagement,  and.  of  that  which  took 
Blaee  below  CraDy  Island)  have  occasioned  much  specuk- 
lion  about  the  utility  of  gun  boats*  In  eacb  instance,  it  wai 
undoubtedly  proved,  that,  under  such  circumstances  as 
attended  them,  the  gun  boats  are  capable  of  great  annoy. 
«nee  ta  the  largest  ships  of  war.  Commodore  Lewisi 
whose  activity  and  eaterprize,  rendered  him,  of  all  othec 
mau,  capable  of  mano&uvrii^  them^  to  advantage,  has 
aaved  an  immense  amount  of  property  to  the  mercan'uk 
interest  of  bis  country,  by  his  repeated  cruises  witii 
them,  in  and  near  the  sound. 

But,  the  operations  of  the  immense  naval  armaments, 
w^b  were  maintained  by  the  enemy,  before  tlie  porta  of 
New  York,  Boston^  New  London,  and  the  entrance  to  Um 
sound,  were  not  to  be  checked  by  a  flotilla  of  boats,  bow- 
ever  well  appointed,  consisting^  in  all,  of  but  thirty  sail; 
and,  the  whole  eastern  coast,  was  therefore  exposed  to 
the  ravages  of  the  invaders.  The  towns  and  \ill£^s 
there,  were  as  exposed  and  defenceless  as  those  to  the 
south ;  but,  a  degree  of  forbearance  was  manifested  by 
the  commander  on  this  station,  which  prevented  the  com- 
mission of  such  extensive  depredations.  Yet,  an  insa- 
tiable thirst  for  plunder,  induced  many  of  the  Britisb 
cruisers  to  seek  the  destruction  of  every  species  of  public 
l^operty,  of  the  most  flourishing  mauufactoring  establish- 
ments, and  of  vessels  carrying  on  a  trade  between  the 
eastern  and  other  i>orts ;  and,  the  cupidity  of  the  sailors 
and  marines,  frequently  led  to  the  sequestration  of  private 
property.  At  tlie  towns  of  Wareham  and  Scituate,  thejr 
burnjd  all  the  vessels  at  tlieir  moorinp;  and,  at  the  for- 
mer, which  they  approached  under  a  flag  of  truce,  they  set 


2ft9 

considerable  loss,  by  the  militia  of  the  neigbboSd 
About  the  month  of  July,  the  blocfcaSln*  .«  5' 
under  sir  Thomas  Hard,,  re^ceived  ^.I^^Sof  s  H^^^^^^^ 
and  talce  possession,  in  his  Britannic  majes  y"s  namp  nf 
Moose  Island,  near  the  mouth  of  Kobbeskook  fil^  '  ^ 
posite  to  the  province  of  New  Brunswkk  L^"^!%T 
western  side  of  Passamaquoddr  Bav     ThJ«  ^  ^^? 

judged,  by  the  British  miSsXbel&r^"^' 
Jjaiy  of  their  ^ssessions  in  North  AmeriL^  a^d  "^Z 
the  capture  of  Moose  Island,  their  forces  wprT  hjL  *  i 
to  occupy  all  the  towns  and  inlands  SiSit     n"* 
fee  1 1th  of  that  month,  sir  Thomas  proLe^td  ^^^^^  S^ 
Ramihes,  74,  one  60  gun  ship,  three  slooprof  wa"  f^ 
^ee  transports,  containing  between  fiftee^n  hunS  !^d 
t,o  thousand  troops,  with  an  intention  of  sumSt^hf 
town  of  Eastport,  coirtaining  about  one  thouZd  ri-H- 
tents,  and  situated  upon  Moose  Island     A^Sittt 
force,  no  kind  of  opposition  could  be  made,  ^  aU«H 
gamson  containing  but   fifty-nine   men,   rort/J^Maf 
whom  only,  were  effectives;   and,  majir  Sam    ,i/ 
commander,  did  not  attempt  to  molest  the  Ironnf'    ,^ 
ad  already  landed.     Formal  possesifo^n'  tsTerU'^" 
of  the  whole  island  ;   the  officers  in  the  earrisoi,  n«r^i  ^' 
the  privates  conveyed  to  the  sq«adron^?he  forr^S -^  u' 
then  mounted  but  six  small  calnorenS^^Mr^^^ 
and  the  battery  extended  to  sixty  pieces  •  and   «  n      ,  ' 
mation  issued  by  sir  Thomas  HardyS^utenan^  ^T^% 
Andrew  Pilkington,  in  which,  theyV4!^ed  a,l  tS    ^S 
to  have  been  surrendered,  by  the  capture  TEalort' 
allowed  seven  days  residence  to  such  inh»ht!!f      ' 
should  refuse  to  s/ear  allegiance  to  Ws  B  "til  ^a^^^^ 
1'  ;H  appointed  a  day,  on  which  they  wer^to  aS" 
We  for  that  purpose.     About  two-thirds  of  th^  ITT 
submitted  to  these  terms,  under  an  Jxptta Sontf  S  . 
^g  their  privileges ;  but,  in  the  month  of  August  the  nrn     * 
S.«^^«^  Brunswick,  in  council,  orde't'  tte 
fiir^'u!"*  ."*  ''^'^'^^^  *^'*"*'*'  8*»ouid  not  b     entitlp'd"f« 

ah"of  IV^.*^'^'*  "?'^  l^'^j^^*^'  notwitkstand^g'hdr 
oath  of  allegiMice ;  but,  that  tliey  should  be  treatid  as  I 


'II! 


■!^') 


I 


^f 


-I" 


230 

conquered  people,  and  placed  under  the  controul  of  llie 
S^ry  authority.  Eastport  was,  f  on  after  well  fo^^^^^ 
td ;  and  remained  in  possession  of  the  British,  ^^^l  the 
eonclusion  of  the  war;  before  which  period,  however 
S  garrison  was  frequently  weakened,  by  ^es^.^ions  of 
large  bodies  of  their  troops ;  the  officers  were  often  com- 
peUed  to  perform  the  duties  of  sentinels;  and,  he  diffi- 
SuWes  of  subsisting  the  army  and^the  people,  daily  en- 
creasino-,  by  the  extreme  scarcity  of  provisions. 

Havrng  thus  secured  the  possession  of  Moos^  Island, 

and  provided  for  itsdefence  against  a^y  attempt  to  rec^^^^ 

H  by  the  Americans,  sir  ITiomas  sailed  to  his  old  station 

before  New  London.     On  the  9th  of  August,  he  made 

signal  for  the  Pa^tolm  frigate,  44,  the  Terrour  bomb 

ship,  and  the  Despalch  brig  of  20  guns,  to  weigh  anchor, 

and'sdl  with  the  tou^ieJ,  to  the  attack  of  the  town  of 

Stonington,  which  the  commodore  had  been  ordered  to 

rVduce  to  ashes.    The  appearance  of  this  fcrmidabe 

force,  before  a  town,  which  possessed  but  weak  and  in- 

adeqiate  means  of  defence,  excited  an  alarm  among  t 

inhabitants,  which  the  message  of  coniraodore  Ha.dy,  to 

Xe  off  the  unoffending  people  of  the  place,  was  u^ 

Takulated  to  subdue,    lut,  having  complied  with 

terms  of  the  commodore's  note,  and  disposed  of  the 

women  and  children,  they  repaired  to  a  sma^l  battery, 

which  had  been  erected  a  few  weeks  before,  and  in 

which  were  mounted  two  18  pounders    and  one  6.- 

Those,    who    had    been    drilled    as    arUllerists     vve« 

stationed  at  these  pieces ;  the  flag  was  ^^'l^d /« .^^^fj' 

and,  a  small  breast  work,  which  had  been  has  dy  Uiiown 

up,  was  lined  with  musquetry.    Thus  arranged,  the  hand- 

ful  of  militia  belonging  to  Stonington,  aw^^^^d  the  ^^ 

proach  of  the  enemy,  with  painful  anx.et3^Expl^^^^^^^ 

were  forwarded  to  gen.  Cushing,  of  the  United  Stetes  8^ 

my,  commanding  at  New  London,  forasupply  of  menan 

ammunition ;    and,  to  the  neighbouring  ^l^^tricts   for  a 

hasty  levy  of  militia.    At  8,  in  the  evening,  five  barges, 

and  a  large  launch,  fi:ied  with  men,  and  armed  with  9 

pounder  ctrronades.  approached  tiie  shore,  under  cover  o 

^^^hi^SI^in;::  iintiTthe^^^  w^re^^ 
short  grape  distance,  opened  their  two  18  pounders  upon, 


331 

ud  compeUed  them  to  retire,  ont  of  reach  of  A.  h... 
The  enemy  then  sttemoted  to  I.mi  1/T^  oHne  battery, 
(own.  at  aVint  whirthey°u„p°o,ed  to  h»^^  "f  ?* 
teocelees.  This  being  diMoveiSirf  i»^i.  ^.*  "°"  ***• 
ruts,  the  6  pounder  ^toStel/t«n"''"?  ."""*• 
lide  of  the  town,  and  th«  h»r^        '  transported  to  that 

Filed  to  ret^  ^^'?Se^to^V/r''•''"''"•'»■ 
de(ermination  to  rene/the  ?Z.,!f  '.J^hippuig,  wilh, 
fte  dawn  of  the  folCin*  mo'rS.^  ""^X^r'^''  "^ 
.evertheless,  continued  ultuSight        '»'»'""<'"»'. 

tatlerv     Th!  »M/>a/cft  being  within  pistol  shot  of  the 

»e4f.ol'^tron  the1as,''^dr„1.?'f"*''  "•  "'"^^^ 
nonade  was  Jient  u^  hitw.  .1  *  *""° '  "''"»'  «  «»"- 
m.l  the  gun  C  i^'whS.  ?  "if  i*.  P"""""  ''«««'y 
from  her  Lhora».  she  h^.  *"■'".""■  *''P'"™n 
between  wind  and  water  «„H  "m?"  '*''^''^    "l""* 

Md repair;  the  baTglt^j '"rftu^^df .  If "  ■!"  "■'"'*  ""• 
(he  fire  vessels  drifted  o^T/of  rllh  of  h^\»«'''''''^-  "l" 
new  anchorage,  and  continued  to  bomblrd  thJt7j  "If"* 
Jg  that  and  the  following  day.    On  the  im  7'  ''"'■• 

tore  Hardy,  relinquishing  any  firthe!  aUeSnT"' 
He  town  to  ashpo    in.!  i.t„-         ,      ;*"'|t  to  reduce 

«killed°and  .Upwards  of  If,'*"^  !""'  "'^'yo-e 
Wadron  to  wei  Jri  /J^  ""r'^i  ""'^'^^  h« 

»ent  haS  l^e:L  p Xelcd^:',!*^"'"''"'^  -""^  '""»•'»«'■ 
"Pivards  of  sixJ  tonnrml?.,  r!f ''''*'*'''^  ^V^'  anJ. 
"ore,  not  a  man  of/h^  Jr,^  """*  .''?*""  ""■""'''  "P""  the 

kerof  wo,.„d"d  did  not  ptlf  7"?  ''"''■^  «»"'"'«  """•- 
fc«t.i«ani  HouV  vh„  T  „  ""•  '^"""S  ""em.  was 
fcrtenant  I  ,«,r„;         '.?'  "•"  "^    '""'»''  Handal,  and 

W'l'i^loi&pl'r'^'i^r"'"'^"''^'''  ""y  """> activity 
I.Wned,  ;.  ,he  tir'lr  ?jf ."llf-r'^;  ^toniugton  con- 
M'ousps-  fn^iw  r.f  *u     '"  '"'   f^^-J^K,   aoout   one  tiHiirJrpd 


W- 


IK 


232 

N6t  content  with  posseeaing  Moose  Island,  and  other 
islands  of  the  bay,  the  British  claimed,  as  a  colony,  all 

.  that  part  of  the  district  of  Maine,  lying  to  the  west  of, 
and  between,  Penobscot  River  and  Passamaquo^ddy  Bay; 
and,  instructions  were  also  forwarded  to  sir  John  C.  Sher- 
forooke,  the  governor  of  Nova  Scotia,  and  rear  admiral 
Griffcth,  commanding  the  tiaval  forces  within  that  pro- 
Vince,  to  take  possession  of  all  that  territory.  These 
commanders  entered  the  Penobscot  River,  on  the  hf  of 
September;   appeared  before  Castine,  from  which  the 

M  garrison  fled,  after  blowing  up  the  fort,  and  which  the 
British  immediately  occupied.  A  proclamation  was  then 
issued,  by  the  governor  and  the  admiral,  in  which  they 
claimed,  as  the  territory  of  H.  B.  M.  that  part  of  the  pro- 
vince  of  Maine,  east  of  the  Penobscot,  in  which  there 
wpre  more  than  forty  villages,  and  upwards  of  thirty 
thousand  inhabitants.  After  possessing  Castine,  many  of 
these  villages  were  gradually  occupied ;  and,  ordinances 
w*re  estJiblished,  for  the  civil  and  military  government  of 
the  people.  Castine,  also,  remained  in  the  hands  of  the 
«nemy,  until  the  conclusion  of  hostilities. 

The  United  States*  frigate  Adams,  captain  Morris,  had 
arrived  in  the  Penobscot,  from  a  successful  cruise,  a  few 

^  days  before  the  occupation  of  Castine;  and,  having  run 
upon  tlie  rocks  near  that  port,  was  obliged  to  be  hove 
down,  at  Hampden,  thirty-five  miles  up  the  river,  to  have 
her  damages  repaired.  On  the  3d  of  September,  the 
British  sloop  Sylph  of  22,  the  Peruvian  of  !8,  and  one 
transport  and  ten  barges,  ascended  the  river,  manned,  in 
all,  with  about  one  thousand  men,  from  Castine,  under 
command  of  commodore  Barric,  with  a  determination  to 
capture  the  frigate.  Captain  Morris  erected  several  bat- 
teries,  on  eminences,  near  his  vessel;  supplied  the  militia, 
who  were  without  arms,  with*  the  ship's  muskets,  and 
made  €very  preparation  to  repulse  the  enemy.  Notwith- 
standing these  judicious  arrangements,  and  the  readiness 
of  the  ship's  crew  to  resist  the  enemy's  attempts,  the 
militia  could  not  be  brought  to  oppose  an  inferior  num- 

s  ber  of  British  regulars;  and,  flying  precipitately  from  the 
ground,  left  no  other  alternative  to  captri  o  Morris,  than  io 
surrender  his  crew,  or  to  destroy  the  Aflxais,  and  retreat 
to  Banffov.  'jr  Kennebeck.  Undei  the  direction  of  lieute- 
nant Wsnis^.  orth,  of  the  ship,  the  s.d^vrr  and  marines  re- 


land,  and  other 
as  a  colony,  all 
to  the  west  of, 
maquoijddyBay; 
ir  John  C.  Sher* 
ind  rear  admiral 
within  that  pro* 
rrltory.  These 
er,  on  the  let  of 
from  which  the 
,  and  which  the 
mation  was  then 
I,  in  which  they 
t  part  of  the  pro* 
in  which  there 
wards  of  thirty 
/astine,  many  of 
and,  ordinances 
y  goveriiment  of 
he  hands  of  the 

tain  Morris,  had 
rul  cruise,  a  few 
and,  having  run 
iged  to  be  hove 
lie  river,  to  hare 
September,  the 

of  18,  and  one 
irer,  manned,  in 

Castine,  under 
determination  to 
jted  several  bat- 
plied  the  militia, 
3  muskets,  and 
emy.  Notwith- 
nd  the  readiness 
s  attempts,  the 
n  inferior  num- 
)itately  from  the 
I  Morris,  than  to 
tills,  and  retreat 
'ection  of  lieute- 
and  marines  re- 


233 

tjr^d  in  good  order,  over  a  bridge  wliich  crossed  a  deep 
creek  j  but,  captam  Morris  and  a  few  men,  who  remained 
to  set  fire  to  the  vessel,  having  succeeded  in  blowing  hw 
up,  was  cut  oflT  from  this  retreat,  and  compelled  to  plunge 
into  the  river,  and  effect  his  escape  by  swimming.  Dis- 
appointed  in  the  object  of  their  expedition,  the  British  re- 
turned  to  Castme,  and  conducted  an  incursive  waifare 
against  the  towns  in  the  vicinity  of  that  port. 


^j* 


I 

"  'it 

i-i 


m    IJ 


f4m\ 


!  <Vi, , 


i 


# 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

The  Nm^y-— United  States^  Gun  Brig  Jtrgus,  captured  by 
the  Sloop  of  War  Pelican — Boxer  and  Enterprize— 
Allen  and  Burrows — Commodore  Rodgers  and  the  Plmr 
iagenet — Constitution  chased  into  Marblehead — Comr' 
modore  Lewis — Cruise  of  the  Essex  Frigate — Her  Cap* 
'  ture— United  States'  Sloop  of  War  PeacoekyVanquisku 
tke  British  Brig  of  War  Kpervier — Cruise  of  the  nm 
Sloop  of  War  Wasp — Her  Conqu^t  over  the  Reindett 
'-^She  sinka  the  Jivon. 


Im 


THE  gOTernment  of  the  United  States,  having  deemed 
it  expedient,  in  the  spring  of  1813,  to  send  an  ambassa- 
^ox  to  France,  at  which  court  they  were  not  then  repre- 
sented; the  American  gun  hrig  Argus,  lieutenant  com- 
mandant Wm.  H.  Allen,  of  18  guns,  was  despatched  to 
L'Orient,  with  Mr.  Crawford,  the  minister  plenipotentiary 
appointed  to  negotiate  a  treaty  of  commerce  with  that 
power.  After  having  landed  the  minister,  she  was  o^ 
dered  to  cruise  in  the  icinity  of  the  British  channel, 
where  she  arrived  about  the  middle  of  June,  and  conti' 
nued  to  cruise  until  the  same  time  in  August.  During  this 
period,  she  captured,  in  St.  George's  channel,  upwards  of 
twenty  vessels,  coasters  and  others ;  and  excited  a  great 
degree  of  alarm  among  the  towns  upon  the  English 
coast.  In  consequence  of  her  activity  in  making  cap- 
tures, and  the  danger  to  British  vessels  of  passing  through 
Uja  channel,  the  insurance  unon  coasters  could  no  lonser 
be  obtained  in  England,  but  at  an  amount  very  far  ex- 


235 

cwOing  the  double  premium ;  and,  though  nnmeroua  v68 
eels  of  war,  of  all  rates  and  descriptions  were  flnX     I 
the  docks,  th«  Argus  was  allowed  rirn  ht  cru'ise 
m  this  neighbourhood  for  two  full  months.    The  at?e„ 
ton  of  the  admiralty  was,  at  length,  however  awftUpnia" 
:to*  F  T^lL^T^i'  ^^.''^^'^  oTwTCperan; 

A.  M.  by  the  light  of  a  schooner  th!non  fire  the  two  vL 
sels  were  brought  in  sight  of  each  other?'  ^IJ^l 
immediately  close  hauled  on  the  starboard  tack  and  mS 
preparation  to  receive  the  enemy.  Sng  ii  everTaf 
tempt  to  obtain  the  weather  gage,  captain  Allen  «7hoi; 
past  6,  shortened  sail,  and^^aiterfor  tht  PeH^^^^^^^^ 
close.  A  few  minutes  a  Wards,  the  Pelican  dMaveS 
her  colours;    he  Argus  hoSted  the  American  fla?7ore 

bZdid'^'afh'h^-'P'  f  *^T'  save  her  a  iShZd 
broadside,  which  being  returned,  the  action  commenced 
wi  nn  the  range  of  musquetry.    At  the  first  fire  from  th^ 
Pehcan,  captain  Allen  fell.    He  was  wounded  sevriyi^ 
the  leg,  but  remained  on  deck  until  several  broadsides 
me  exchanged ;  when,  being  quite  exhausted  by  the  ex 
cessive  loss  of  blood,  he  yielded  the  command  of  ST; 
Argus  to  heutenant  Watson,  and,  was  taken  below 
Meanhme  the  Pelican  shot  away'the  mat  Sraces    ti^ 
spnng  stay,  gaff  ami  trysailmast,  of  the  Argus     At  ll 
.minu  es  past  6,  her  sprit  sail  yard,  and  most  of  the  ftlnd 
ng  rigging  on  the  larboard  side  of  the  foremast    wp,!' 
0^;  and  lieutenant  Watson  received  a  wo^dSnth: 

ca med  below.  The  command  of  the  Argus  now  dp 
vo  ved  on  lieutenant  William  H.  Allen,  junThoseunre-* 
nutted  exertions,  frequently  defeated  the  enemv's  It 
empts  to  get  into  a  raking  ^ition.  At  16  mSes  past 
6,  the  Pehcan  edged  off,  with  an  intention  of  getting  «£ 
dl^r  *^C,*J  Argus;  but  lieutenant  Allen!  b^uffit 
close  too,  with  his  main  topsail  aback,  and  g  vine  h^r^ 
^;ng  broadside,  completely  frustrated  thif  X'mpr^ 

ma  n  f     ''''  ™*?"^^'  *^*^''  «^  Shot  away  the  preventer 
mam  braces  and  maia  top  sail  of  the  Argus,  depriv^^^^^ 

'^i  !!il!!^?^  *^-  ?««r  «ail,  and  thus  c'ausingC  to 
-  .«  „^,„«.  tae  wim,  succeeded  in  passing  her  stem 

X  8 


y% 


I;  t: 


I', 


r  "i'p- 


M 

It 


i| 


Sit 

and  ranged  up,  on  her  starboard  Bide.  AtSS  minutes  past 
6,  the  Argus  having  loat  her  wheel  ropes  tod  running  rig- 
ging of  every  description,  became  entirely  UDmanageable; 
and,  the  Pelican,  not  being  materially  damaged,  had  an 
qppoitunitj  .  5  >  >  i'lg  her  position.  She  continued  her 
fire  on  th«>  •Jwb.i?  (d  quarter  of  the  Argus,  until  half  past 
6 ;  wh*5U  litaienant  Watson  returned  to  the  deck,  and 
made  i>reparations  to  board  the  enemy.  The  shattered 
condition  of  the  brig,  rendered  that  effort  imiiossible;  and 
the  Pelican  took  a  position  on  her  stern,  and  gave  her  a 
rakmg  tire  for  eight  mintitRtt,  n^  -^n  she  passed  up,  and, 
placing  herself  on  the  starboard  bow,  continued  a  rakiiig 
fire  there  until  47  minutes  i)a8t  6.  AH  this  while,  ths 
commander  of  the  Argus  was  endeavouring,  without  ef- 
feet,  to  bring  her  guns  to  bear;  and,  having  nothing  but 
musquetry  to  oppose  to  the  galling  and  effective  fire  of 
the  enemy,  he  determined  on  surrendering  the  brig.  A 
measure,  which,  in  consequence  of  the  loss  of  several 
officers  and  many  of  the  men ;  of  the  shattered  state  of 
Oie  hull  and  rigg'rag ;  and  of  the  impossibility,  under  these 
disadvantages,  of  getting  otherwise  out  of  the  combat,  he 
would  have  been  warranted  in  adopting  much  sooner. 
At  tlie  moment  her  flag  came  down,  the  P^iican  was 
pressing  to  board  her ;  and,  being  close  alongside,  imme- 
diately took  possession.  Her  loss  amounted  to  six  killed, 
and  seventeen  wounded ;  five  of  the  latter,  died  soon 
after  the  engagement-  The  loss  of  the  Pelican,  wm 
three  men  killed,  and  live  only  wounded. 

Captain  Allen,  submitted  to  an  amputation  of  his  leg; 
hutj  every  means  of  restoration  to  his  health,  proved 
ineffectual ;  and,  on  the  18th,  three  days  after  the  action, 
he  expired  in  Mill  Prison  hospital,  whence  he  and  mid- 
shipmen Delphy  (who  had  both  his  legs  shot  from  his 
body,  at  the  same  instant,)  and  Edwards,  were  buried, 
with  the  usual  honours  of  war. 

Several  United  States*  sloops  of  war  were,  about  this 
period,  upon  the  stocks;  and,  it  being  necessary,  that 
their  building  and  equipment  should  be  superintended  by 
experienced  naval  officers,  commanders  were  ass'igned  to 
ti.em,  previously  to  their  being  launched  into  i heir  des- 
tined element.    To  restore  to  the  American  naval  hst, 


the  name  of  a  vessel,  which  hau  oci"  i^apiuref 
superior  force,  after  tiie  moment  of  victory  over  another 


.  ?i  . 


257 

f  e«8d,  one  of  these  was  ordered  to  be  ca.  ed  the  Waip 
and  the    command    given  to  lieutenant  commandant 
BlHkely,  at  that  «me  of  Oie  gun  brig  ^he  Enterpriee. 

By  this  transfer,  the  command  of  the  latter  vessel  de- 
wlved  on  lieutenant  commandant  Burrows,  to  whom  in- 
structions had  been  given,  for  a  cruise  from  Portsmoutht 
On  the  lat  of  September,  he  sailed  from  that  plact*,' 
steered  to  the  eastward,  ami,  on  the  3d,  discovered  and 
chased  a  schooner  into  Portland,  vhere  he  Rained  intel- 
ligence of  several  privateers  being  off  Manhagan,  and 
immediately  stood  for  that  place.* 

The  British  gun  brig  the  Boxer,  of  14  guns  and  nearly 
one  hundred  men,  had  been  fitted  up  at  8t.  Johns,  (New- 
Brunswick)  for  th."  purpose  of  a  combat  with  the  Enter- 
pnze,  mounting  the  same  number  of  guns,  and  very 
nearly  the  same  number  of  men.    To  the  crew  of  the 
Boxer,   however,  a  detachment  was  added   from  the 
Ratler,  upon  her  arrival  on  the  United  States'  coast     On 
the  morning  of  the  6th,  the  Enterprise,  in  the  bay  near 
Penguin  Point,  discovered  the  Boxer  getting  under  weifffa 
and  gave  chace  to  her.     The  Boxer  fired  several  guns' 
gtood  for  the  Enterpriae,  and  hoisted  four  ensigns.     Cap- 
tain Burrows,  having  ascertained  her  character,  stood  out 
of  the  bay  to  obtain  sea  room ;   and,  followed  by  the 
Boxer,  he  hauled  upon  a  wind  until  8  P.  M.     At  that 
hour,  he  shortened  sail,  and,  m  twenty  minutes,  the  ac- 
tion commenced,  witliin  half  pistol  shot.    At  the  first 
broadBide,  captain  BIythe  was  killed  by  a  cannon  shot 
ftrough  his  body ;  and,  in  &  moment  afterwards,  captain 
Burrows  tell  by  a  musket  ball.    The  command  of  the 
two  vessel?,  during  the  whole  engagement,  was.  there- 
fore, maintained  by  the  lieutenanU.    Captain  Burrows 
refused  to  quit  the  deck,  and,  at  4  P.  BT.  received  the 
sword  of  captain  BIythe,  from  the  han(i    of  lieute-iant 
M'Cail;  expressed  lis  satisfaction  at  the  manner  of  his 
death,  and  expiree,  about  eight  hours  afterwards.     The 
colours  of  the  Boxer  had  been  nailed  to  the  mast,  and 

*  The  EnterpHze  is  the  same  vessel  which,  in  1801,  was  a 
schooner,  in  the  Mediterranean,  commanded  by  lieutenant  I 
Jterret.  Under  that  officer,  she  engaged  and  captured,  in  1 
August  ot  thai  year,  durinjr  the  Trioolitan  war.  the  shin  of  »«? 
^ripot,,  of  14  guns  and  eighty-five  men.  In  this  engagement, 
sne  lost  not  a  single  man;  whilst  her  antagonist,  bad  fifty  of 
ler  crew  kdled  and  wounded.  ' 


T 


;  t !  y 


>  ,  r 


f ..  ('!-•• 


sas 


4^J 


■'  li 


1    I 


11 


her  firat  officer  was,  therefore,  obliged  to  hail  lieutenant 
M'Call,  to  inform  him  of  her  surrender,  before  it  waa 
known  that  she  was  vanquished.     She  was  immediately 
taken  possession  of,  and  carried  into  Portlan<l,  with  her 
maBts,  sails,  and  spars,  cut  to  pieces ;  and,  with  twenty 
18  pound  shot  in  her  hull*     The  number  of  her  killed 
and  wounded,  could  not  be  ascertained,  no  papers  being 
on  board,  by  which  the  strength  of  her  crew  could  be 
known.    Her  officers,  admitted  the  loss  of  twenty-five 
killed,  and  fourteen  wounded.    The  rigging  of  the  Enter- 
prize  was  much  cut  with  grape  shot,  but  her  hull  was  not 
materially  damaged.     Her  loss,    was  one  killed  and 
Uiirteen  wounded.     Among  the  latter,  the  captain  and 
carpenter's  mate,  are  since  dead.      Lieutenant  Tilling- 
hast,  and  midshipman  Waters,  the  latter  of  whom  was 
severely  wounded,  behaved  with  coolness  and  determi- 
nation ;  and,  lieutenant  M'Call,  who  succeeded  his  gal- 
lant captain,  sustained  the  reputation  of  the  navy,  by  bia 
conduct  throughout  the  action. 

On  their  arrival  at  Portland,  the  bodies  of  the  deceased 
commanders  were  deposited,  with  the  usual  military 
ceremonies  ;  and,  the  prisoners  were,  soon  after,  re- 
moved to  the  interior.  Both  vessels  were  repaired  with 
the  utmost  despatch ;  an(\  the  Boxer,  being  considered 
the  superior  vessel,  was  ordered  by  the  president  of  the 
United  States,  to  be  delivered  up,  for  the  benefit  of  the 
captors,  and  bought,  from  them,  into  the  service. 

By  the  fall  of  these  young  officers,  captains  Allen  and 
Burrows,  the  naval  service  experienced  a  heavy  and  al- 
most irretrievable  loss.  Captain  Allen  had  distinguished 
himself  in  a  gallant  manner,  in  the  action  with  the  Mace- 
donian, at  which  time  he  was  first  officer  to  commodore 
Decatur ;  and,  not  long  after,  received  the  approbation 
of  his  government,  by  a  promotion  to  the  rank  of  a  mas- 
ter commandant,  and  to  the  command  of  the  Argus. 
He  sustained  the  reputation  of  a  brave  and  «ourteous  man, 
an  accomplished  seaman,  and  a  friend  of  unswerving  in- 
tegrity. Captain  Burrows,  whose  intrepidity  and  forti- 
iude,  instigated  him  to  remain  on  the  deck  of  his  vessel, 
■  in  the  agonies  of  death,  until  he  knew  of  the  surrender  of 
*  the  enemy,  possessed  these  inestimable  qualities  in  no 
ifias  a  deffree^  The  loss  of  such  men,  will  be  a  fruitiul 
source  of  sorrow,  to  those  who  have  been  their  compar 


839 

Dions  in  aiTOf,  and  to  those  who  looked  up  to  them  for 
examplea  of  ueefuhiess  and  heroiBm. 

Between  this  period  a„d  the  commencement  of  the 
year  1814,  the  cruises  of  the  shipe  of  war  of  the  United 
Statei,    were  not  attended    by  any   of  those    brilliant 
Mhievcments,  by  which  they  had  previously,  and  have 
sjnce  that  time,  been  marked.     In  the  month  of  Februl 
aiy  of  that  year,  the  frij^ate  President,  returned  from  a 
CTUise  of  about  seventy  days.     At  the  entrance  to  Sandy 
Hook,  after  haying  passed  the  light-hou*e,  commodore 
Rodgera,  found  himself  in  the  neighbourhood  of  three 
lar^emenofwar,  the  nearest  being  the  Ptenia,te„et  74. 
captam  Lloyd.     Being  well  assured  of  an  attack,  from 
one  or  all  of  the  enemy's  vessels,  he  cleared  ship  forac- 
f.on;  and,  though  his  capture  was  inevitable,  he  detcN 
maied  not  to  lose  the  President,  until  he  could  no  longer 
fight  her.     In  consequence  of  the  wind  and  tide  bein« 
both  unfavourable,  he  was  compelled  to  remain  in  hia 
situation  seven  hours,  before  either  of  them  enabled  him 
ir*!  ^^^^^i^""^^  in  *n  that  thne,  to  his  great  aston- 
Jihinent,  imd  U>ih^  surprise  and  mortification  of  the  pri- 
Moers  on  board,  no  disposition  was  manifested  lo  attack 
fte  President,  though  her  character  was  known,  and  she 
fired  a  gun  to  windward,  to  aignify  her  wftlingness  to 
l^t  since  there  was  no  apparent  possifoilityof  escaplnr* 
The  tide  having  changed,  commodore  Rodgers  proceed^ 
to  New  York;    and,  captain  Lloyd,  after  rc-urning  to 
England,  accounted  for  his  conduct,  by  alledging  a  mu- 
tiny m  hie  ship,  and  had  several  of  his  sailors  tried  and 
executed  upon  that  charger 
In  the  succeeding  month  of  April,  the  ConsHtution 
ngate,  commanded  by  captain  Charles  Stewart,  was  alsd 
retarmng  from  a  cruise  commenced  on  the  Ist  Januarr 
Un  her  arrival  on  the  coast,  she  was  pursued  by  two  Bri- 
tish frigates   and  a  brig,  and  chased  into  Marblehead. 
ber  w^r1,«    «,?^,»n«hip  of  her  commander,  enabled 
I  S^f'  ?ffi**"Jty,  to  escape ;  and,  she  reached  Salem, 
I  ^^"'O"*  jnjury      During  her  cruise,  she  captured  the  Bri- 
.  '8H  public  schooner  Pidou;  and,  fell  in  with  the  frigate 
Jj«i^9«e  captain  Maitland,  who  fled  on  the  approach  of 

sL  ?'^*"*''*°-    ^^  ^ff«»^  ^«s  left  untried  by  captein 
I  Stewart,  to  ovfirtak**  and  i*""«  i^—  *-  „^*:^-    M   .„_ 

n*P«a  in  the  mght,  after  a  long  chace;  and,  captain 


If/.! 


I       ■''. 


1^ 


Maitland^  on  bis  arrival  in  England,  was  complimented  by 
flie  admiralty,  for  his  strict  observance  of  bis  instructions, 
IE  flying  from  an  American  frigate. 

Repeated  opportunities  were,  about  this  time,  given  to 
the  enemy's  squadron  off  Sandy  Hook,  to  engage  the  gun 
boat  flotilla.  A  schooner  had  been  driven  ashore ;  and, 
numbers  of  barges,  well  manned  and  armed,  were  des- 
patched to  take  possession  of  her;  but,  commodore 
Lfcwis,  ordered  a  detachment  of  his  Skdlors  to  land  and 
protect  her.  With  a  small  field  piece,  and  their  small 
arms,  they  beat  off  the  enemy,  launched  the  schooner, 
and  carried  her  to  her  destined  port,  New  York.  A 
month  afterwards,  the  Belvidere  chased  the  brig  Regent, 
laden  with  an  immensely  valuable  cargo,  close  into  the 
Hook ;  when  the  commodore,  whose  station  was  con- 
stantly at  that  point,  immediately  gave  signal  for  a  de- 
techraentof  his  flotilla  to  follow  him ;  aid,  placing  him- 
B^lf,  with  eleven  sail,  between  the  frigate  and  the  chace, 
prevented  her  capture ;  and,  fired  upwards  of  fifty  shot  at 
the  frigate,  which  stood  ofif,  without  returning  the  fire. 

In  a  preceding  chapter  of  this  work,  «n  m<jco«nt  is 
riven  of  a  plan  of  a  cruise  in  the  South  Seas,  by  a  squad- 
ron, composed  of  the  Constitution,  the  Essex,  and  the 
Hornet,  under  commodore  Bainbridge  This  cruise  was 
broken  up,  by  the  engagements  of  the  Constitution  and 
the  Hornet ;  and,  as  neither  of  those  vessels  were  found 
by  the  Eosex,  at  either  of  the  appointed  rendezvous,  cap- 
tain  Forter  obtained  such  additional  provisions  as  were 
necessary  for  a  long  cruise.  He  had  received  intelli- 
gence of  the  victory  over  the  Java,  and  had  been  in- 
formed that  the  Montague  had  captured  the  Hornet.  He 
therefore  determined  on  prosecuting  the  oiiginal  cruise, 
with  the  Essex  alone.  Previously  to  his  departure  from 
tlie  rendezvous  on  the  coast  of  Brazil,  he  captured  the 
British  packet  Nocton,  took  out  of  her  £11,000  sterling, 
in  specie,  and  ordered  her,  with  lieutenant  Finch,  to  the 
United  States.  He  then  shaped  his  course  for  the  Paci- 
fic, arrived  at  Valparaiso  on  the  14th  March,  18 IS,  provi; 
sioned  himself  there,  and,  runnrag  down  the  coast  of  Chili 
pind  Peru,  fell  in  with  a  Peruvian  corsair,  on  bcanl  of 
which  were  twenty-four  Americans,  detained  as  prison- 
ers. Captain  Porter  immediately  threw  the  guns  of  the 
corsair  o\  erboard,  deprived  her  of  all  her  wariike  imple- 


241 

fflenfs,  released  the  Americans,  and  re-captured  near  TS 
ma,  one  of  the  vessels  in  which  they  ST!e„  takJ^ 
From  Limn,  he  proceeded  to  the  Gmplg^sU^: 
jfhere  he  cruised  from  April  until  October ;  and,  iMhat 
fame  captured  twelve  armed  British  whale  shTs      The 
Montezuma  o{  2  guns  and  21  men;   the  pS^  of  ?S 
guns  and  26  men ;    the   Georgiam  of  6  ^uns  ind  a? 
men;  the  Greenwich,  of  10  gunf  and  25  menTLftlan 
tic,  of  8  guns  and  24  men ;  the  Rose,  of  8  iA,„8  and  2/ 
men ;  (be  HeUor,  of  1 1  guns  and  25  men  ^rcJh^ine 
of  8  guns  and  29  men;   the  Seringapatam,  of  14  Zj 
and  31  men ;  the  Charlton,  of  10  gtns  and  21  men  ^Te 
New-Zealander  of  8  guns  and  23  men ;  and,  he  ^;  Jft 
*-en;  Ham»^nrf,  of  12  guns  and  31  mei;  iSik?„g,   nlS 

3456.     Many  of  these  vessels  were  pierced  for  1 8   IS 
f  26  ^ns;   and,  captain  Porter  equipped  several  of 
ta  ami  commissioned  them  as  UniLl'^States'IrS  e?f 
and  store  ships.    The  ^Uaniic,  he  called  the  Essex  Jn 
mr;  equipped  her  with  20  guis,  and  as  igned  his  firsJ 
fficer,  lieutenant  Downes,  a*   her  commander?    Tb  3 
officer  conveyed  such  of  the  prizes,  as  were  to  be  laid  up 
0  Valparaiso.    Here  he  learned,  that  a  British  squadron' 
consistmg  of  one  frigate,  two  sloops  of  war,  and  a  S 

tr/  fodT'- '''  'ff. '''  ^'""^''^'^  ^'°  "«-'«^  Sal 
-ssex   and  he  immediately  returned  to  captain   Porter 

With  this  intelligence.    The  Essex  had  now  been  one 

year  at  sea,  and,  as  she  required  many  lenL?  captain 

Porter  proceeded  to  the  Island  of  NooaheeV.rV  fi" 

on  s  Island,  lying  in  the  Washington  groupe:  where  he 

ompletely  repaired  the  Essex ;  and,  hafing^cured  three 

of  h  8  prizes  under  the  guns  of  a  battery  which  hehrrf 

P^J^iously  erected,  and  banned  with  twenVone  marine^ 

e  l£f  r"""  '^"  '^?  December,  and  arrived  there 

e,2ni   JvT''^'  ^^^*-     ^^  **»«»  ^°«ked  into  Con- 

ZT  t°*l\^'P^^^'«o,  where  he  learned,  that  the  squacl- 

ZL:tf  ""'Jr?'^'^  -^^'•'"ed  by  lieutenanf  DoTc  , 

jas  conjectured  to  have  been  lost  in  doubling  Cape  Horn. 

«,  nevertheless,   coi.tinued  in  the  neighbourhood  of 

lEsS  ?r'    ^^''l'    "^'^  anchored  in  (hat  port,  with   the 

\hZo?Z'  ''^''"  ^^^^oe.or^  Hillyar,  of  the  frigate 

I  ^^oe  of  36  guns,  mounting  (Ujirty  long  la's,  sixfees 


'III 

I  at 


I      I       r   ! 


3^  pound  carronad^s,  aod  one  howitzer,  oa  her  dec^ 
and  six  3  pounders  in  her  tops,)  53  guns,  and  having  a 
complement  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  men ;  accom- 
pftnied  by  the  Cherub  sloop  of  war,  cJqitain  Tucker,  of 
(eighteen  32  pound  carronades,  eight  2**s,  and  two  long 
9'b,)  28  gum,  and  one  hundred  and  eighty  men,  arrived 
at  Valparaiso.  The  Essex,  which  mounted  (forty  3« 
pound  carronades,  and  six  long  12's,)  46  guns,  and  had 
her  crew  reduced,  by  prizes,  to  two  hundred  and  fifty-five 
men  ;  and,  the  Essex  Junior,  which  was  not  competent  to 
resist  a  sloop  of  war,  mounting  twenty  guns,  and  having 
on  board  sixty  men,  were  thus  blockaded  by  a  force  of 
eighty-one  guns  and  five  hundred  men. 

After  cruising  at  the  entrance  to  the  harbour  for  sit 
weeks,  the  Phcebe  hove  too,  fired  a  gun  to  windward, 
and  hoisted  a  motto  flag,  with  the  words,  ^'  God  and 
Country;  British  sailors'  best  rights;  Traitors  offend 
both ;"  in  answer,  as  it  was  thought,  to  captain  Porter's 
motto  of  "  Free  Trade  and  Smlors'  Rights."  On  the 
mizen  of  the  Essex,  a  flag  was  immediately  hoisted, 
with  the  words,  "  God,  our  Country,  and  Liberty  ;  Ti/* 
ranfe  offend  them;"  and  she  got  under  weigh,  and  com* 
menoed  a  *^re  on  the  Phoebe.  Captain  Porter  conceived 
the  movementa  of  the  Phoebe  to  be  intended  as  a  chal- 
lenge to  engage  him,  ship  to  ship  ;  but,  on  discovering 
that  the  Phcebe  ran  down  to  her  consort,  he  felt  con. 
▼inced  that  commodore  Hillyar  would  not  engage  the 
Essex  alone.  This  conclusion  was  confirmed  by  the 
conduct  of  the  two  vessels,  in  keeping  constantly  withm 
hail  of  each  other. 

Captain  Porter,  having  now  learned  that  the  Tagus 
and  two  other  frigates  had  also  sailed  for  the  Pacific,  in 
pui  suit  of  him,  not  knowing  at  what  time  they  might  gain 
the  squadron  already  blockading  him,  and  seeing  no  ad- 
vantages which  his  country  could  obtain  by  his  remaining 
longer  in  port,  iletermined  on  putting  to  sea ;  and,  ex- 
pected, by  drawing  off"  the  Phoebe  and  Cherub  in  pursuit 
of  iiim,  to  afford  an  opportunity  to  the  Essex  Junior,  to 
which  he  had  appointed  a  rendezvous,  of  escaping. 

On  the  28th  of  March,  the  day  after  this  determination 
was  formed,  the  wind  came  on  to  blow  fresh,  from  the 
southward,  and  the  Essex  parted'  her  larboard  cable,  and 
dragged  her  starboard  anchor  directly  out  to  seaj  the 


243 

occurrences  Which  followpd    nr«  *i.       i 

tain  Porter's  official  letterT^^^^  thus  (lescribed  in  cap-. 

"Not  a  moment  was  to  be  losf   in  ^^m-         ^ 
ship.    The  enemy  were  dose  in  wl^h"^  '"fl  °"  *^ 
tiie  west  side  of  the  bav  •    mf  Z  -^^  P**'"*  ^^'''^^^g 

prospect  of  passing  to^indwlHC^^^  '  ««^  « 

gallant  sails,  which  were  sel^^vpr  i-  i  ^''^^  '"  '"y  ^^P" 
and  braced  up  for  triHiirnn^J  kT^^ '^^^^^  *^P-««"«» 
point,  a  heav^qL  ^strS  th^^^^  ^",  '°""^^"S  *h« 

her  main  top-mstpr^^^^^^^^^  and  carried  away 

into  the  sea:  who  weH  owS  S  I' '  ^"'  "'^^** 
chace  to  me  ;  and,  I  endearo,?,^;i  ?  '''JP'  "^'^  g^^« 
to  regain  the  port  bn?  fi.T  t  '  '"  .""^  "^'^^^^^^  s*ate, 
«n  anch'orage,  r^^l^^^^^^^^  not  recover  the 

tliree  quarters  of  Imilel^leewL.  If  *^^^^^^  «^«"* 

east  side  of  the  haSour  andT.  *^^  ^^"^'-5^'  °"  "^^ 
pistol  shot  of  the  shore    ^f     i  .^?  ""f  ^"^'^^r'  ^^^hin 

Lages,as  soonaspossib^  Thf  ^^  ^"  ''^'^'  '"^ 
approach,  and  shewed  an  evideSLw'S^  T'^""'^  *« 
OS,  regardless  of  the  neutrX  of  fh^  "  °^  attacking 
anchored.  The  caution  Xfrved  t  h'''  ""^"'^  '  "^^^ 
the  attack  of  the  criDDlPd  p!r  ^^^'^  W^-oach  to 

aswas their disXyTtiielrmrn'  T'  '''"^^  "diculous; 
of  jacks  at  their  mast  heads  I  w^^f'  '"^  *^"  ^^^'^^^^^ 
tion  as.  circumstanrs\vruM\dL"of!^gr^  Zt^Tf 
or  action,  and  endeavoured  to  set&J^n^I  ^'^  '^f^^ 
but  had  not  succeeded,  when  the  e„emv^n?«T^  '^''^^' 
after  3  P.  M.  made  his  attack  •  the  PhcZ'  ni  -^  T""^^' 
under  my  stern    anrl  fL  r^i  '    u   *^"®°^  placmg  herself 

«P  and  ran  under  my  stern  ^IsTwht^^orshTs  k^^t 

of^rt^^ISf  Xti^etb^^^^  1^'}^^  -th-e  cruise 

by  captain  Porter  "n  fh^  namrof  fhe  Un  fid  S  ^J^^''^^—^ 
tercourse  established  withTh^nlfS     •    t^?  States— of  the  in- 
"ent-of  the  des?rttTof  of  th"   fnem^^^^^^       of  ^^^  govern. 
,  «eas-of  the  immense  expence  whirl  J^J  M  j  "S-^'*^^  '"  »h"«e 

»ent  to  pursue  and  captu^re  thetssex  ^  an?  '^/  ?""^''  ^°^""" 
Nh.chtook  place,  bet^^een  tne  d^^~*„f  ;;^^*Je  t^ 

I  '^weenthe  Ph-»»-  "- ° -t^!^*^^"^-'  *"^^  ^^ew  of  the  battk* 
i  -   -•  —_  jMiu  %,ijwruD,  ana  iiie  iissex. 


»»«, 
!:-\ 


^'vi^ 


24% 

tip  a  hot  raking  fire.    1  had  got  three  long  12  poiTnders 
out  at  the  stern  ports,  which  were  worked  with  so  jnucli 
bravery  and  skill,  that  in  half  an  hour,  we  so  disabled 
both,  as  to  compel  them  to  haul  oflf  to  repair  damages. 
In  the  course  of  this  firing,  i  had,  by  the  great  exertions 
of  Mr.  Edward  Bamewall,  the  acting  sailing  master,  as- 
sisted by  Mr.  Linscott,  the  boatswain,  succeeded  in  get- 
ting springs  OF,  our  cables,  three  different  times  ;  but,  the 
fire°of  the  enemy  was  so  excessive,  that,  before  we  could 
get  our  broadside  to  bear,  they  were  shot  away,  and  thus 
rendered  useless  to  us.    My  ship  had  received  many  in- 
juries, and  several  had  been  killed  and  wounded  ;  but,  my 
brave  officers  and  men,  notwithstanding  the  unfavourable 
circumstances  under  which  we  were  brought  to  action, 
and  the  powerful  force  opposed  to  us,  were  noways  dis- 
couraged ;  all  ajipeared  determined  to  defend  their  ship 
to  thelast  extremity,  and  to  die,  in  preference  to  a  shame- 
ful surrender.     Our  gaff,  with  the  ensign  and  motto  flag 
at  the  raizen,  had  been  shot  away ;    but,  free  tradb 
AND  sailors'  rights.  Continued  to  fly  at  the  fore.    Our 
ensign  was  replaced  by  another;  and,  to  guard  against  a 
similar  ever.t,  an  ensign  mas  made  fast  in  the  mizen  rig- 
ging, and  several  jacks  were  hoisted  in  different  parts  of 
the  ship.     The  enemy  soon  repaired  his  damages  for  a 
fresh  attack  ;  he  now  placed  himself,  with  both  his  ships, 
on  my  starboard  quarter,  out  of  the  reach  of  my  carron- 
ades,  and  where  my  stern  guns  could  not  be  brought  to 
bear ;  he  there  kept  up  a  most  galling  fire,  which  it  was 
out  of  my  power  to  return,  when  1  saw  no  prospect  of 
injuring  him,  without  getting  under  weigh  ami  becoming 
the  assailant.    My  top-sail  sheets  and  haliards  were  all 
shot  away,  as  well  as  the  jib  and  fore-top-mast-stay-sail- 
haliards.      The  only  rope  nut  cut  was  the  flying-jio 
haliards ;   and,  that  being  the  only  sail  J  could  set,  I 
caused  it  to  be  hoisted,  my  cable  to  be  cut,  and  ran  down 
on  both  ships,  with  an  intention  of  laying  the  Plioebc  on 
bonrd.    The  firing  on  both  sides  was  now  tremendous ;  I 
had  let  fall  my  fore-top-sail  and  fore-sail,  but  the  want  of 
tacks  and  sheets  had  rendered  them  almost  useless  to  us; 
yet,  we  were  enabled,  for  a  short  time,  to  ^lose  with  the 
enemy;  and,  although  our  decks  were  now  stiewed  with 
dead,  and  our  cock-pit  Sl'ed  vv^ilh  wounded  ;  although  ow 
shin  had  been  several  tiines  en  fire,  antLwaa  rendered  b 


245 


perfect  wreck,  we  were  still  encouraged  to  hope  to  save 
her,  from  the  circumstance  of  the  Cherub,  from  her  crippled 
state,  being  compelled  to  haul  off.    She  did  not  return  to 
close  action  again,  although  she  apparently  had  it  in  her 
power  to  do  so,  but  kept  up  a  distant  firing  with  her  long 
guns.     The  Phoebe,  from  our  disabled  state,  was  enabled, 
however,  by  edging  off,  to  choose  the  distance  which  best 
suited  her  long  guns,  and  kept  up  a  tremendous  fire  on  us, 
which  mowed  down  my  brave  companions  by  the  dozen. 
Many  of  my  guns  had  been  rendered  useless  by  the  ene- 
my's shot,  and  many  of  them  had  thf;ir  whole  crews 
destroyed.    Wo  manned  them  again,  from  those  which 
were  disabled,  and  one  gun  in  particular  was  three  times 
manned ;  fifteen  men  were  slain  at  it,  in  the  course  of 
the  action !  But,  strange  as  Jt  may  appear,  the  captain  of 
it  escaped  with  only  a  slight  wound.     Finding  that  the 
enemy  had  it  in  his  power  to  choose  his  distac^e,  I  now 
gave  up  ai;  hopes  of  closing  with  him ;  and,  as  the  wind, 
for  the  moment,  seemed  to  favour  the  design,  I  deter- 
mined to  endeavour  to  run  her  on  shore,  land  my  men 
and  destroy  her.     Every  thmg  seemed  to  favour  my 
wishes.    We  had  approached  the  shore  within  musket 
shot,  and  I  had  uo  doubt  of  sucxieeding,  when,  in  an  in- 
stant, the  wind  shifted  from  the  land,  (as  is  very  common 
in  this  port  in  the  latter-  part  of  the  day}  and  pa^ed  our 
head  down  on  the  Phoebe,  where  we  were  again  exposed 
to  a  dreadful  raking  fire.     My  ship  was  now  totally  un- 
manageable ;  yet,  as  her  head  was  *oward  the  enemy, 
and  he  to  leeward  of  me,  I  still  hoped  to  be  able  to  board 
him.    At  this  moment,  lieutenant  commandant  Downea 
came  on  board  to  receive  r^  orders,  under  the  impress 
sion  that  i  should  soon  be  a  prisoner.     He  could  be  of 
no  use  to  me,  in  the  then  wretched  state  of  the  Essex  ; 
and,  finding,  (from  the  enemy's  putting  his  helm  up)  that 
my  last  attempt  at  boj*.ding  would  not  succeed,  I  direcfetl 
liim,  aftcf  he  had  been  about  ten  minutes  on  board,  io 
return  to  his  owa  ship   '    Hp.  preiiared  for  defending  and 
destroying  her,  in  est  of  attack.    He  took  with  him 
several  of  my  wouiTfled,    eaving  three  of  his  boat's  crew 
on  board,  to  make  room  for  them.    The  slaughter  on 
board  my  ship  had  now  become  horrible ;   the  enemy 

continuing  to  rake  !!s,  and  we  unable  to  bi-inff  a  gun  io 
bear.     I  tKot.A4V>»»    ».       .    .       .  .     .       ■=     » 


sr      ':.',,  I< 


a: 


lu   ue  ucui  10  iii^ 


■A 


!»' 


246 


I 


rl 


sheet  anchor,  and  the  anchor  to  be  cut  from  the  bowB  to 
bring  her  head  round :    this  succeeded.     We  again  got 
our  broadside  to  bear;   and,  aB  the  enemy  was  much 
crippled,  and  unable  to  hold  his  own,  I  have  no  doubt  he 
would  soon  have  drifted  out  of  gun  shot,  before  he  dis- 
covered we  had  anchored,  had  not  the  Hawser  unfor 
lunately  parted.    My  ship  had  taken  fire  several  times 
tUiring  the  action,  but  alarmingly  so  forward  and  aft  at 
this  moment,  tiie  flames  were  bursting  up  each  hatchway, 
and  no  hopos  were  entertained  of  saving  her ;  our  dis- 
tance from  the  shore  did  not  exceed  three  quarters  of  a 
mile,  and  I  hoped  many  of  my  brave  crew  would  be  able 
to  save  themselves,  should  the  ship  blow  up,  as  I  was  in- 
formed the  fire  was  near  the  magazine,  and,  the  explosion 
of  a  large  quantity  of  powder  below,  served  to  increase 
'Aiv  horrors  of  our  situation.     Our  boats  were  destroyed 
by  the  enemy's  shot ;   I,  therefore,  directed  those  who 
«:oUl(l  swim,  to  jump  overboard,  and  endeavour  to  gain 
ihe  shore      Some  reached  it;    some  were  taken  by  the 
enemy,  and  some  perished  in  the  attempt;  but  most  pre- 
ferred sharing  with  me  the  fate  of  the  ship.     We,  who 
remained,  now  turned  our  attention  wholly  to  extinguisn 
ihe  flames ;  and,  when  we  had  succeeded,  went  again  to 
our  guns,  where  the  firing  was  kept  up  for  some  minutes; 
but  the  crew  had,  by  this  time,  become  so  weakened, 
that  they  all  declared  to  me  the  impossibility  of  making 
further  rcsis^tancc,  and  entreated  me  to  surrender  my  ship, 
to  save  the  wounded,  as  all  further  attempt  at  opposition 
must  prove  ineifectual,  almost  every  gun  being  disabled, 
by  the  destruction  of  their  crews." 

Captain  Porter  then  summoned  his  oflicers  of  divisions 
to  a  consultation,  but,  to  his  surprize,  his  summons  was 
attended  by  one  only  remaining  officer,  acting  lieutenant 
M'Knight,  who  made  the  same  report  concerning  the 
condition  of  the  guns.  Lieutenant  Wilmer  had  been 
knocked  overboard  by  a  splinter,  and  was  drowned ;  act- 
ing lieutenant  Cowell  had  lost  a  leg,  of  which  loss  he  af- 
terwards died ;  Mr.  Barnewell,  thi  acting  master,  had 
been  twice  severely  wounded  ;  acting  lieutenant  Oden- 
heimer,  had  been  knocked  overboard  about  the  same 
time,  and  did  not  regain  the  ship  until  she  had  surren- 
dered ;  many  of  the  wounded  were  killed,  v»hile  in  the 
hands  of  the  surgeons  ;   the  cockpit,  the  steerage,  the 


■Al 


wardroom,  and  the  birth-deck,  could  contain  no  more ; 
and,  8uch  was  the  quantity  of  shot  holes  in  the  bottom  of 
the  Essex,  that,  unless  she  was  very  soon  repaired,  the 
cn^iienter   reported,    she   must  inevitably    sink.      The 
smoothness  of  the  water,  and  the  impossibility  of  reaching 
llie  enemy,  with  the  carronades,  enabled  him  to  fire  with 
Ihe  most  deliberate  aim  at  the  Essex ;    and,  seeing  nc 
hope  of  saving  his  little  frigate,  captain  Porter,  at  20  mi- 
nutes past  6  P.  M.  gave  orders  to   strike  the  colours. 
At  this  moment,  seventy-five  men  only,  including  offi- 
cers, were  all  that  remained  of  the  crew,  tit  for  duty  ; 
and,  several  of  these  severely  wounded.     The  Essex  had 
now  yielded  to  the  superior  force  of  the  enemy,  who, 
nevertheless,  still  fired,  and  continued  to  do  so,  ten  mi- 
nutes after  her  surrender.  Many  of  the  crew  were,  in  this 
time,  killed  :  an  opposite  gun  had  been  fired,  to  show  that 
she  intended  no  further  resistance,  yet  commodore  Hill- 
yar  still  assailed  her,  and  four  men  fell  at  the  side  oih^v 
commander  .—Conceiving,   from   this  conduct,  that  the 
enemy  intended  to  shew  no  quarter,,  captain  Porter  de- 
termined to  die  with  his  flag  flying,  and  was  on  the  point 
of  re-hoisting  it,  when  the  firing  ceased. 

In  addition  to  the  otficers  already  mentioned,  captain 
Porter  speaks  of  Messrs.  Johnson  and  Bostwick,  acting 
officers ;  of  midshipmen  Isaacs,  Farragut  and  Ogden  ; 
md  of  acting  midshipmen,  Terry,  Lyman  and  Duzenbury', 
Having  behaved  with  much  bravery,  enterprize  and  skill. 

Such  was  the  condition  of  both,  the  Phoebe  and  ihe 
Essex,  that  it  was  with  extreme  ditficultv  fhey  could  be 
kept  afloat  until  they  anchored  in  Valp'araiso.  All  t'^e 
masts  and  yards  of  the  two  British  vessels  were  crippled 
and  their  hulls  cut  up.  The  Phoebe  had  eighteen  12 
pound  shot  below  her  water  line,  though  the  Essex  never 
reached  the  enemy,  but  with  her  six  12  pounders.  AH 
me  vessels  were  obliged  to  be  repaired,  to  double  Cape 
Horn ;  and  at  Rio  de  Janeiro,  they  put  in,  to  fit  up  and  re- 
paii",  to  enable  them  to  reach  England. 

In  an  engagement,  of  two  hours  and  twenty  minutes' 
«nvahon,  between  one  ship  of  46  guns,  six  only  of  which 
could  be  used,  and  two  vessels  of  81  guns,  the  loss  on  the 
iwsnor  side  roust  necessarily  have  been  excessively  se- 
^efe.    On  board  the  Essex,  fifty-eight  men  were  kiUed: 


^4 


'■>-■■  r.,kf 


m  I 


i:i\ 


i  ('     .  .  ' 


I. 


I 


TO"  J 


«Ki4dl  i 

;  *  "   - 

^M 

i,; 

'      ; 

M  f 

:  ■■; 

tajh 

Ita 

^..M...^.. 

248 

thirty-nine  severely,  and  twcnly-six  sligliiiy,  wounded, 
and  thirty-one  missing  ;  making  a  total  loss  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty-four.  On  board  the  Phflobe  and  Cherub, 
the  loss  was  not  small.  The  fiijst  lieutenant  of  the  for- 
mer was  killed,  and  captain  Tucker,  of  the  latter,  severely 

wounded. 

Commodore  Hillyar  made  arrangements  with  captain 
Porter,  in  consideration  of  his  conduct  to  the  crew  of  the 
Alert;  by  which,  the  Essex  Junior  was  to  be  dismantled 
of  her  armament,  and  given  up  to  the  prisoners,  who  were 
to  proceed  in  her  to  the  United  States.  Accordingly,  on 
Ihe  27th  of  April,  captain  Porter  and  his  crew  left  Valpa- 
raiso in  that  ship,  which,  under  lieutenant  Downes,  was 
furnished  with  a  passport,  to  secure  her  admission  into 
any  of  the  '  'ockadcd  ports  of  the  United  States.  On  the 
5th  July,  fell  in  with  the  Saturn  razee,  captain  Masli, 

who  sufift.  .  the  Essex  Junior  to  proceed,  after  an  ex- 
aiiiination  of  her  papers.  Two  hours  after,  being  on  the 
same  tack  with  the  Saturn,  she  was  again  brought  too, 
the  papers  re-examined,  and  the  hold  overhauled,  by  the 
boat's  crew  and  an  officer.  Captain  Porter  was  informed 
that  commodore  Hillyar  had  no  authority  to  make  any 
arrangement,  by  which  this  ship  should  be  given  up,  and 
that  she  must  therefore  be  detained.  Captain  Porter  imme- 
diately ordered  out  a  boat,  manned  it  with  a  sufficien*  ?rew, 
and  pulled  off  from  the  Essex  Junior.  The  Saturn  did  not 
discover  him  until  he  was  out  of  gun  shot,  when  she 
chased  the  boat,  without  success ;  and  captain  Porter 
landed  at  Long  Island,  upwards  of  thirty  miles  from  the 
place  at  which  he  left  the  Essex,  and  immediately  pro- 
ceeded to  New  York,  where  he  arrived,  after  an  absence 
from  his  country  of  nineteen  months,  and  to  which  port  m 
was  followed,  a  few  days  after,  by  the  Essex  Junior. 

The  United  States'  sloop  of  war  Peacock,  captain  L. 
Warrington,  of  20  guns,  and  160  men,  was  launched  in 
the  month  of  October,  1813,  performed  a  crusie  during 
that  winter,  escaped  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy  into  the  St 
Marys,  put  to  sea  again,  and  on  the  29th  of  April  disco- 
vered the  British  brig  of  war  Epervier,  captain  Wales,  of 
18  guns,  and  128  men,  having  under  convoy  an  English 
brig,  and  a  Russian,  and  a  Spanish  ship,  all  of  whom  made 
sail  on  the  approach  of  the  Peacock.  An  engagem.eiit  fol- 


249 

lowed  soon  after  between  the  two  vessels  of  war,  and  at 
me  fir«t  broadside  from  the  Epervier,  the  foreyard  of  thfe 
Peacock  wa8  otally  disabled  by  twi  round  shot  i„  he 
starboard  quarter.  By  this  circumstance  she  was  ("enri- 
vjd  of  the  use  of  her  fore  and  fore  top  sails^L  capta  n 
Warrmgton  was  compelled  to  keep  his  ship  larg7throS 
out  the  action,  which  continued  42  minutes.  In  this  t"me 
she  received  many  shot  through  her  sails  and  viJZZt 
several  top-mast  and  top-gallant  back-stays,  and1  ad  two 
men  wounded.  Her  hull  not  at  all  injured  ami  non^nf 
he  crew  killed.  The  Epervier  struck  wTt'fi^^^frwa 
er  in  her  hold,  her  main  top-mast  over  the  side,hermlb 

tenng,  her  fore  rigging  and  stays  shot  away,  her  bowsprit 
much  .njiired  her  hull  pierced  by  45  shot,  20  of  which 
were  withm  a  foot  of  her  water  liiie,  and  ll'of  her  crew 
killed,  and  her  first  lieutenant  and  14  men  wounded.  She 
was  mmediately  taken  possession  of  by  lieutenant  Nchol- 

ee^  of  th    '''  "^'k  ^r??''  ^^^^^'  ''^''^  lieutenant Voo  . 
^d  com^^^^^^^  '•^'"  distinguished  in  another 

lav^  combat.  8 11 8,000  m  specie,  were  found  on  board 
^e  Epervier,  and  transferred  to  the  Peacock ;  and  capta  n 
Wamngton,  having  received  on  board  the  officers  of  the 
enemy's  vessel,  pursued  his  course  to  one  of  the  southern 

fh  e'ro^tTirgfnjr' '"  ^'^^^  ^^^^  ^^^^^^^^^  ^-  --^^^ 

offlL^'clCrv?  A-  ^'v  ''^  "^^f«"«^-^"g  ^^y>  being  almost 
Je-ed  fwn  L  *^^A7.^'»^'«^an^^  captain  Warrington  disco- 
vered two  large  sail  in  chase,  which  he  ascertained  to  be 
S  an  th""*  '•"  -^^g-«on  of  lieutenant  Nicholt,„%1 

crej  of  only  16  men  on  hoard,  dkected  her  to  make  the 
best  of  her  way  for  St.  Mary's,  whUst  he  stood  on  a  w  nl 

rated  tTu  •  "^  ^.^'  f  "'i»™*'  The  frigates  then  sepa- 
rated one  being  m  chase  of  the  Peacock  ami  the  other  of 
he  Epervier.     At  9  that  night  the  Peacock  lost  sight  of 

ri«/i''lT'.^.u*  ^«»tT^^  '"  "^§^^*  *«  *he  southward  At 
day  light  of  the  1st  of  May,  she  shortened  sail,  and  stood 

ernni""!-  ''^^';'^'  ^^f^^^''^^^  ^^e  frigate  again,  anc»  was  a 
second  time  chased  until  2  P.  M.  when  the  frigate  gave 
it  f  •  .  «^ening  she  resumed  her  cruise,  fell  in  tvith 
we  irigate  a  third  time,,  on  the  morning  of  the  2d  and  was 
again  chased  until  she  lost  sight,    On  the  Z^^r^ 


I* 
u 


Wi 


250 

4lh.  she  made  Tybee  light  house,  at  the  entrance  to  8a 
vannah,  and  arilveil  at  that  port  in  the  course  of  h.  .Ihv 
Here  captain  Warrington  found  his  prize,  the  ii-pervicr, 
which  had  escaped  with  great  difficulty,  after  beating  ofl 
a  launch  well  manned  and  armed,  which  had  been  des- 
patched from  Uie  frigate  to  overtake  her.  Lieutenant  Ni- 
cholson,  by  his  Judgment  and  decision,  which  had  never 
been  known  to  desert  him  in  times  of  peril  and  difficul- 
tv,  prevented  her  recapture.    The  Ep  a'vier  was  repaired, 
refi  ted,  bought  into  the  service  at  Savannah,  and  the 
command  given  to  captain  Downes,  of  the  Essex  Junior. 
The  conduct  of  lieutenant   Henly,   of  mid^>iipmen 
Greeves  and  Rodgers,  of  Mr.  Towsend,  captain's  clerk, 
and  Mr.  Myers,  master's  mate,  is  represented  by  captain 
Warrington  to  have  been  cool,  determined,  and  active. 
The  sailing  master  Percival,  the  same  who  captured  the 
tender  Eagle,  off  Sandy  Hook,  handled  the  ship  m  a  very 
supferior  style,  and  placed  her  in  such  situations  as  were 
most  advantageous,  with  much  case  and  professional  stall. 
The  new  sloop  of  war  the  Wasp,  captain  Blakeiy, 
mounting  20  guns,  having  been  completely  equipped  for 
a  long  cruise,  sailed  from  Portsmouth  on  the  Ut  of  May, 
ISlChetween  which  time  and  the  6th  of  the  following  Ju- 
ly she  captured  seven  merchantmen,  and  abrig  of  war,  the 
Reindeer,  captain  Manners,  of  18  guns,  and  one  shifting 
.run,  and  1 18  men.     This  capture  was  made  after  an  ac- 
tion of  19  minutes,  in  Lat.  48, 36,  N.  and  long.  11, 16,  W. 
On  that  day,  at  15  minutes  after  4,  A.  M.the  Wasp  being 
in  pursuit  of  two  sail  before  the  lee  beam,  discovered  Uie 
Reindeer  on  the  weather  beam,  and  immediately  altered 
her  course,  and  hauled  by  in  chase  of  her.    The  pursuit 
conUnued  until  half  past  meridian,  when  the  Reindeer,  ha- 
ving previously  hoisted  an  English  ensign  and  pendant, 
shewed  a  blue  and  white  flag  at  the  fore,  and  fired  a  gun. 
At  15  minutes  past  1,  captain  Blakely  called  all  hands  io 
quarters,  and  prepared  for  action.    At  22  minutes  past  1, 
he  tacked  ship,  and  stood  for  the  Reindeer,  with  an  ex- 
pectation of  being  able  to  weather  her.    At  50  mintites 
past  1,  the  Reindeer  tacked  and  stood  fVom  the  Wasp. 
66  minutes  past  1 ,  the  Wasp  hoisted  her  colours,  and  fired 
a  gun  to  windward,  which  was  answered.  The  chase  was 
kept  up  until  32  minutes  past  2,  when  the  Reindeer  tack- 
ed fOr  O&e  Wa^,  and  the  tetter  took  in  her  stay  sails,  and 


251 

Id'^hai^VT'f-  .^"P*"'"  ^^^^^^y  '»«^'"g  n«^^  discover- 

tacked  8h.n  and  at  15  minutes  past  3,  the  Reindeer  being 

shifflnV'';;     ',r'*'''  "*  ®^  y«"'«  <««tance,  fired  h« 
shi mng  u  n   a  12  pound  carronade,  loaded  with  round 

red  agam;  at  19  mmutes  past  J,  it  was  fired  a  third  time; 
1  !  fifth  r  ''  ^'""'n?'  ^^^"''"'  ^''"^J  «»^'  »t  ^  '"i"ute8  past 

tl  /  .'  ^"'"'  "^"'  ^""^'''  ^^«  ««»ni'c"<>d  lo  receive 

^.se  repeated  diacarges  without  being  able  to  bring  a 
un  to  bear     Her  helm  was  therefore  put  a-Iee,  and  at 
26  mmutes  after  3,  captain  Blakclj  commenced  tlie  action 
mm  his  after  carronaci*',  on  the  starboard  side,  and  fired 
in  succession      The  mainsail  was  then  hauled  up,  and  at 
4fl  mmutes  after  3,  the  Reindc  (       larboard  bow  being  in 
coiiUict  with  the  larboard  quarter  .,f  the  Wasp,  captain 
Manners  directed  his  crew  to  boar!  her.    The  a.lempt 
was  gallantly  repulsc<l  I,y  tlie  crew  of  the  Wasp,  who  se- 
veral times  beat  off  the  enemy;  and  at  44  minutes   .ast  3, 
(vere  ordered  to  board  in  turn.  Thi-owing  themselves  with 
great  promptitude  upon  the  deck  of  the  Reindeer,  they 
succeeded  m  the  execution  of  their  orders,  and  her  flac 
came  down  at  45  minutes  after  3.    In  a  line  with  her 
ports,  she  was  cut  almost  to  pieces ;  her  upper  works, 
)oafs,  and  spare  spars  enlirfj.y  destroyed,  and  on  the  fol- 
lowing day  her  foremast  weni  by  the  board.  Twenty-five 

0  her  crew  were  killed,  and  42  wounded  making  a  loss 

01  67  men.  On  board  the  Wasp,  the  injury  sustained  was 
not  so  material.  Her  riggingwas  destroyed  however  in 
several  places,  her  foremast  was  pierced  through  by  a  24 
pound  ball,  and  her  hull  struck  by  six  round  shot,  and 
inany  grape,  though  not  with  suflicient  force  to  penetrate 
T  Her  loss  amounted  to  6  killed,  and  21  wounded, 
principally  in  boarding.  Among  the  latter  midshipmen 
Ijangdon  and  Toscan,  both  of  whom  expired  some  days 
alter.  Having  received  the  prisoners  and  their  baggage  on 
board  the  Wasp,  captain  Blakely  blew  up  the  Reindeer 
on  the  evening  of  the  29th,  and  sailed  for  L'Orient  to  pro- 

I  TKle  tor  the  disabled  part  of  each  crew,  whose  wounds 
oau  become  otfensive  in  consequence  of  the  intense  heat 
01  the  weather.    He  arrived  at  that  port  on  the  8th  of 


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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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Pnotographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MA(N  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

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July)  and  found  that  their  damage  could  be  repaired  by 
the  carpenters  of  the  ship  in  a  few  days.       ;  v* . 

,  In  this  action  lieutenantg  Bdry  and  Reily,  wfilo  had  been 
ill  the  ei^i^ements  with  the  Guerriere  and  Java,  and  of 
lieutenant  Tillinghast,  {Id)  who  Was  instrumental  to  flie 
capture  of  the  Boxer,  maintained  the  high  credit  which 
they  acquired  on  those  previous  occasions.  And  captain 
Blakely,  whose  reputation  as  a  skilful  geamen,  and  an  ex- 
pert navigator,  is  not  surpassed  by  any  naval  ofiicer,  had 
his  tTdvr  so  well  drilled  upon  the  principles  of  marine 
discipline,  that  they  never  despaired  of  vahquishing  an 
equal  force  6f  their  enemy,        \ 

In  the  port  of  L'Orient,  the  Wasp  was  detained  by  head 
winds  until  the  27th  August,  having  beeq  anchored  there 
fifty-two  days.  During  iliis  time,  every  attention  was 
given  to  her  officers  and  crew  by  the  inhabitants,  and 
their  situation  in  »  foreign  port,  rendered  particularly 
agreeable  by  the  assiduities  of  the  American  minister. 

After  leaving  that  place,  and  capturing  two  valuable 
British  merchantmen,  captain  Blakely  fell  in  with  a  con- 
voy of  ten  sail,  on  the  first  of  September,  uader  the  pro- 
tection of  the  Armada  74,  and  a  bomb  ship.  He  stood 
for  them,  and  succeeded  in  cutting  out  of  the  squad- 
ron, a  brig  laden  with  brass  and  iron  cannon,  and  military 
stores,  from  Gibraltar ;.  and  after  taking  out  Uie  prisoners 
and  setting  her  on  fire,  he  endeavoured  to  cut  out  another 
vessel,  but  was  driven  off  by  the  74.  In  the  evening,  at 
half  past  6,  he  discovered  two  vessels  on  his  starboard, 
and  two  on  the  starboard  bow,  and  hauled  for  that  which 
was  farthest  to  windward.  ^At  7,  she  was  made  out  to  be 
a  brig  of  war,  making  signals  with  flags,  which  could  not 
foe  distinguished,  owing  to  the  darkness  of  the  night;  and 
at  29  minutes  past  9,  she  was  under  the  lee-bow  of  the 
Wasp.  Captain  Blakely  ordered  the  12  pound  carroaade 
to  be  nred  into  her,  and  received  a  return  from  the  stran- 
ger. The  Wasp  then  ran  under  the  lee-bow  of  the  ^ne- 
my,  to  prevent  her  escape,  and  immediately  commenced 
an  action,  which  continued  until  10  o'clock,  when  captain 
Blakely,  supposing  his  antagonist  to  be  silenced,  ceased 
firing,  and  hailed  to  know  if  she  had  surrendered.  No 
answer  being  given  to  this  demand,  he  re-commenced 
firing,  and  the  enemy  returned  him  broadside  for  broadr 


^^^^^M 


263 

■a- 

side.  At  12  minutes  past  10^  the  enemy  Iiavine  made  nn 
return  to  the  two  last  bK>ad8ide8,  was^a^n^S  to 
know  if  he  bad  suprendertd.  Caotain  Bl«llir«I!  • 
toed  that  the  .e«sel  being  i„  a  feg  ctS^r  he"J 
commanderhad  struck  his  colours.  The  wCrboate 
were  immedi^ly  lowered,  when  a  second  brig  of  wir 
was  discovered  a  litUe  distance  astern,  standinX  h^r 
The  crew  were  mstantly  Bent  to  their  quartersf  and  ml 
pactions  madcjor  another  engagement  The  Wasp  was 
km  too  for  the  approach  of  the  second  stranger  wL' 
atsemmutes  past  10,  two  other  brigs  weredSw  ^ 

Sk'eTlwr '"'";  l'^'""''  *^^««  circ'umXcer« 
Blakely  was  prevented  from  taking  possession  of  his  nrize 

and  keepmg  off  the  wind,  with  an%xpectatio„  of  dS 

the  brig,  first  discovered,  after  him,  he  ordered  new  brace! 

to  be  rove  to  replace  those  which  had  been  sh^t  away 

H.8  expectations  were  not,  however,  answered,  the  bX 

of  war  continuing  in  pursuit  only  untU  she  was  neir  enou  J 

under  his  stern  to  give  him  a  broadside,  and  retL?o  her 

companions.   This  she  did,  and  cut  the  rigging Td  sat 

anlshot  away  a  lower  main  cross  tree  of  the  Wasn 

The  name  and  force  of  the  prize  has  since  been  Ler- 
Jned.  ^he  was  the  brig  of  war  Avon,  captain  ArbuC 
of  the  same  niimber  of  guns  as  the  Keindeer,  and  sunk 
.Immediately  after  the  Casti'ion  (the  vessel  wWcSchaS 
the  Wasp)  had  taken  out  lier  last  man.  According  to  !he 
enemy's  account,  her  captain  was  wounded  in  both  legs 
The  first  heutenant  and  8  men  killed,  and  the  second 
lieutenan^,  one  midshipman,  and  34  men,  woun^"^^"** 

The  Wasp  received  in  her  hull,  four  32  pound  «hot  and 
inher  mainmast  a  nu«rf,er  of  grape.shot.'^  fierSand 
ngging  were  much  damaged,  but  her  loss  in  men^ount 
ed  to  two  killed,  and  one  only  wounded.  She  Se  1 
her  damages,  on  the  succeeding  day,  and  «mtin^Tl^ 
cruiee  in  conformity  with  her  iLruckZf^'ZmX 
department.  On  the  21st  of  September  sheTptu^d  off 
Madeiras,  her  thirteenth  prize,  the  British  brkAte 
to,  of  8  guns,  and  the  only  one  which  she  se"?fnto 
ort  This  vessel  arrived  at  Savannah  in  the  beginS 
omovember,  under  the  command  of  Mr.  Geisingfn  oSf 
^he^officersof  the  Wasp,  witb^d^^^^^ 


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-^  26^  ■ 

The  Atalanta  left  the  Wasp,  at  sea,  o»  the  23d  of  Sep- 
tember without  knowing  the  aestination  to  which  her 
further  cruise  would  conyey  her,  and,  rince  thattiine,  no 
offic^  accounts  have  been  received  from  her.  Her 
cruise  was  theretofore  most  brilliant  and  unparalleled, 
her  sailors  all  young-*-4ithletic,  brave  and  enthusiastic,  and 
,her  officers  among  the  mo6t  skilful  in  the  service  —The 
pubUc  mind  has  been,  therefore,  greatly  agitated,  by  ap- 
pnehensions  about  her  safety;  and  her  return, to  port 
looked  for,  with  painful  anxiety,  by  the  people,  of  the 
whole  country.  ^  /^ 


SP.- 


;  i.f_<.!u 


m 


CHA1*TER  XTII. 

Proposed  plan  ofoperaHam  in  Lower  Cana^a^The  armu 

Colle-^ConcentreUtcn  of  the  British  forces  at  Isle  jh^ 

J^^yi  ^"'^^'^^-BHtish  appear  at  its  mouth^ 

f  ri£":?rf r*'  ^  ^^^^o^^^^eutenant  Dud^ 
&f  C      'ifET'\^'''^SO--'Secmd  appearance  of  the 

Tz/'TTrf^  25^^  ^"^"^^"^if^^^-BlockadeofSack- 

etts  Harbour— ^  evgaf(ement  at  Sandy   Cr^lr  W 

capfyire  of  the  f^hole  mtish  force-S  IMtUh  Z 

r^eto  Kingst^^TheJln^^ansl^kaS^^ 

^a^  near  Odelltown-Death  qf.colmel  Farsytke-Ex- 

pe^tian  against  Long  Point,  Canada-Colonel  Baubee 

IN  the  wintci-  0^1813,  we  left  the  northern  arirtv  «« 
er  general  WiIklnson,inq«arters,  the  riK 
aj  Champlain,  jyid  the  left,  and  largest,  at  French  S 
Between  that  time  and  the  spri„go/l814,  several^t  of 
ttack  ^upon  the  posts  of  St.  Philip,  L'Acadie  and  St 
Johns,  by  the  route  of  Hammerford,  La  Tort ue  and  st 
nere,  and  for  a  simultaneous  movement  against  Cornwaf' 
with  a  view  to  cut  off  the  communication  biweerthe 
Upper  and  Lower  Provinces,  were  submitted  to  'he  war 
department,  by  the  commander  in  chief.   Before  the  pZ 
po  itions  wg.e  received  at  the  department,  orders  had 
been  forwarded  to  Salmon  river,  directing  the  general  tn 
withdraw  his  forces  from  French  Mills ;  to  forw^d  sioj 
men,  with  a  proportion  of  field  and  batfering  canno/ dn? 
de^  general  Brown,  to  Sackett^s  harbour;  and  to  faTbacfc 


I 


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IBI 


• 
In  conformity  to  tticsc  drdcrs,  the  flotilla,  in  which  the 
army  had  descended  the  St.  Lawrence,  was  destroyed  on 
the  night  of  the  12th  of  February ;  the  barracks  were  fired 
on  the  succeeding  day,  and  the  troops  abandoned  their 
quarters  and  marched  toward  the  several  places  of  their 

destination.  .  .    •. «,  i^  u       i. 

General  Wilkinscnhad  scarcely  reached  Plattsburg  be- 
fore he  was  apprized  of  a  movement  of  the  enemy,  with  a 
view  to  the  capture  of  a  few  sick  men,  whose  extreme  ill- 
ness rendered  it  indispensible  they  should  be  left  m  the 
hospital  at  Malone,  a  short  distance  from  the  Mdls.  He 
Oierefore,  determined  on  their  expulsion  from  the  ternto- 
ry  in  time  to  prevent  the  achievement  of  their  object, 
Mid  having  made  proper  arrangements,  for  the  convem- 
ence  and  comfort  of  the  sick  at  their  new  quarters,  he 
marched  with  all  possible  expeditton,  to  meet  and  repulse 

the  enemy.  ^  . . ,        .        ^  a 

Colonel  Scott,  of  the  103d  Bntish  regiment,  command- 
ed the  expedition  against  French  Mills  and  Malone,  com- 
posed of  2000  regulars,  Glengarians,  and  mill  la,  and  aj- 
comoanied  by  nearly  300  guides  and  followers.  He 
crossed  over  to  the  Mills  on  the  21st,  burned  the  arsenal 
at  Malone,  pillaged  the  property  of  individuals,  and  car- 
,  ried  off  several  barrel*  of  public  provisions.  But  hearing 
of  the  approach  of  the  American  troops,  he  retreated  m 
o-reat  confusion,  though  not  without  destroying  the  bridges 
Si  his  rear.  The  whole  party  suffered  severely  by  a  tre- 
mendous  storm  of  sncw  and  hail,  which  prevailed  at 
the  close  of  the  day,  and  lost  upwards  of  200  deserters, 
who  sur'-endered  themselves  to  the  Amencan  army. 

During  the  following  month  (Marc»  the  troops  were 
not  otherwise  engaged  than  in  breaking  up  a  system  of 
smueeling,  which  had  been  carried  on  for  several  previous 
monAs,  and  which,  at  this  period,  was  extended  to  an 
alarmins  and  dangerous  degree. 

Towards  the  close  of  March,  general  Wilkinson  deter- 
mined on  estahllihing  a  battery  at  Rouses  Point,  where 
he  had  previously  discovered  a  position,  well  adapted  tor 
a  wori£,  *o  keep  in  check,  the  contemplated  movement? 
of  the  British  fleet,  destined  to  operate  upon  the  Lake 
Ghamplain,and  which  had  been  laid  up  during  the  winter, 
at  St.  Johns,  about  21  miles  below  the  mouth  of  the  U 
Colle,  and  26  from  Rousee  Point.    After  this  position 


m 


257 

bad  been  reconnoitred  by  his  engineer,  major  Totten,  he 
made  an  attempt  to  carry  this  object  into  execution,  but 
the  sudden  and  unseasonfible  breaking  up  of  the  ice,  de- 
feated the  plan ;  and,  being  informed  that  the  enemy  had 
taken  the  alarm,  and  was  condensing  a  force  of  2500  men 
.  at  La  Colle  Mill,  four  miles  from  Rouses  Point,  he  deter- 
mined, on  the  opinion  of  his  leading  offic^ers,  and  a  report 
that  the  walls  could  be  effectually  battered,  with  a  6 
pounder,  to  attack  it.  On  the  30th,  he  accordingly  entered 
Canada,  and  was  met  by  a  p«|rty  of  the  enemy  at  Odell- 
town,  whom  he  forced  back  more  than  3  miles,  on  the 
route  to  Montreal,  in  the  course  of  which  much  skirmish- 
ing took  place.  He  then  resumed  his  march  to  La  Colle 
Mill,  a  large  and  lofty  fortified  stone  house,  measuring  60 
feet  by  40,  and  at  that  time  in  command  of  major  Han- 
cock, and  a  strong  corps  of  British  regulars. 

To  drive  the  enemy  from  this  post,  ami  to  effect  its 
destruction,  general  Wilkinson  ordered  forward  an  18 
puunder,  and  disposed  his  troops  so  as  to  intercept  him  in 
an  attempt  to  retreat.  The  only  road  of  approach  being 
through  a  deep  forest,  almost  inundated,  and  covered  with 
Insurmountable  obstructions,  to  the  passage  of  a  heavy 
piece  Of  cannon,  the  18  pounder  could  not  be  brought  up, 
and  the  general  determined  upon  attempting  a  breach  with 
a  twelve,  and  a  five  and  an  half  inch  howUzer.  He  took  post 
with  those  pieces,  under  command  of  captain  M'Pherson 
and  his  seconds,  lieutenants  Larrabee  and  Sheldon,  at  a  dis- 
tance of  260  yards*  from  the  fortified  house,  and  covered 
them  vvith  the  second  brigade  qomposeri  of  the  33d,  34th, 
m  and  10th  regiments,  and  part  of  colonel  Clarke's  com- 
mand, under  brigadier  general  Smith,  on  the  right;  and 
UieSdbngade,  composed  of  the  I4th  and  20th,  under 
bngadier  general  Bissel,  on  the  left.  Colonel  Miller  was 
detached  with  the  6th  and  12th  and  part  ofthe  13th,  to  cross 
ine  La  Colle,  and  form  a  line  across  the  several  roads 
leading  from  the  stone  house  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
nver,  to  cut  off  the  retreat  of  the  British  regulars.  Briga- 
dier.general  M'Comb,  with  a  select  corps  of  the  first  hrir 

««l!i  *•*  *^'^  jn^Jo/*  now  lieutenant  colonel,  Totten,  has  since 
ascertained  that  the  Americans  were  within  150  yards  of  the 
noijse,  and  that  a  breach  could  not  have  been  effected  with  an 


.1  '/':. 


|[!l-*A. 


l'>*  f' 


» 


ri  iH-'^ 


gade,  formed  the  reserve.  All  these  regiments  were 
mere  skeletons  consolidated.  This  disposition  being 
completed,  the  bdttery  was  immediately  opened  upon 
the  enemy,  who  promptly  returned  the  fire,  and  threw 
numbers  of  Congreve  rockets  upon  the  right  wing 
of  the  American  line.  From  these  manifestations  of 
deliberate  and  circumspect  prepaintion,  the  commander 
of  the  American  forces  was  induced  to  believe  the  report, 
that  the  number  of  the  enemy  amounted  to  2600;  his 
>trength  was  inferior  to  that,  however^  though  competent 
under  the  cover  of  strong  walls,  to  repel  an  attack  from  a 
much  larger  number  of  assailants. 

The  stone  house  stood  upon  that  side  of  the  river  on 
which  general  Wilkinson  had  drawn  up  his  line ;  a  block- 
house, of  wood,  stood  on  the  other ;  and  both  were  encom- 
passed by  an  open  piece  of  ground,  on  the  edge  of  a  wood 
bordering  upon  which  the  Americans  had  taken  post; 
every  officer,  therefore,  from  the  lowest  subaltern  up  to  the 
commander  in  chief  was  exposed  to  the  enemy's  fire.  Here 
the  general  made  proper  arrangements  to  keep  his  corps 
in  order,  to  receive  a  combined  attack,  and  continued  to 
cannonade  the  house,  but  without  being  able  to  effect  a 
breach,  although  the  guns  were  managed  with  uncommoB 
skill,  by  officers  accustomed    to    their    use.     Captain 
M'Pherson  had  been  already  wounded  under  the  chin; 
this  wound  he  immediately  bound  up,  and  continued  to 
direct  the  fire  from  his  piece  until  a  second  shot  broke  his 
thigh,  and  rendered  him  unfit  for  further  duty.     His  next 
officer,  lieutenant  Larrabee,  was  shot  through  the  lungs, 
and  lieutenant  Sheldon  kept  up  the   fire,  with   great 
vivacity,  until  the  close  of  the  engagement.    The  conduct 
of  these  gentlemen  was  represented  by  their  commander 
to  be  "  so  conspicuously  gallant  as  to  attract  the  admira- 
tion of  their  brothers  in  arms." 

Relying  on  the  firmness  and  intrepidity  of  his  troops,  and 
seeing  that  the  Americans  were  resolved  on  the  longer 
maintenance  of  the  cannonade,  the  British  commander, 
major  Hancock,  determined  on  issuing  a  strong  party  from 
the  house,  to  storm  the  battery,  and  put  the  assailants  to 
flight.  He  gave  orders  for  a  sudden  and  immediate  sor- 
tie, and  several  desperate  charges  were  attempted  upon 
the  cannon.  These  were  successively  repulsed  by  tne 
covering  troops,  and  the  enemy»s  regulars  obliged  to  retire 


,i0 


259 

to  the  fortified  building  with  considerable  loss.  They  then 
£hut  themselves  up  in  the  house,  and,  convinced  of  their 
ability  to  retain  their  position,  put  at  defiance  the  utmost 
efforts  of  the  Americans ;  and  general  Wilkinson  bein* 
now  persuaded  of  the  impracticability  of  making  an  im* 
pression  with  such  light  pieces  upon  a  solid  stone*  wall 
found  upon  experiment  to  be  of  unusual  thickness,  called 
io  his  detachments,  withdrew  hio  battery,  and  havint'  pre- 
vioHsly  rewiOFed  his  dead  and  wounded,  fell  back  to  Odell- 
town,  at  about  6  o'clock  of  the  same  day.    Thence  he 
moved  to  Champlain  and  Plattsburg,  at  which  latter  place 
he  established  his  ijuarters.    The  American  loss  in  this  af- 
fair amounted  to  140  in  killed  and  wounded,  among  the 
latter  lieutenant  Green  and  Parker,  of  the  infantry.    The 
enemy's  loss  was  known  to  be  considerable  in  the  sortie, 
but  the  amount  has  never  been  accurately  ascertained. 

Immediately  after  the  incursion  to  La  Colle,  the  whole 
regular  force  of  Lower  Canada,  and  a  battalion  of  Glen- 
garian's  from  Coteau  de  Lac,  were  concentrated  at  hie 
mx  Noix,  and  a  large  number  oibattetmx  collected  at  St. 
Johns.  The  former  awaiting  the  movement  of  the  British 
fleet,  whose  boats  were  employed  in  the  daily  examination 
of  tlie  ice  on  the  lake,  on  the  breaking  up  of  which,  such 
movement  depended.  This  event  took  place  in  the  be^^in- 
ning  of  the  month  of  April,  and  early  in  May  the  British 
flotilla  entered  Lake  Champlain. 

Previously  to  their  appearance  on  the   lake,  general 
Wilkinson  had  been  recalled  from  that  district,  by  an  or- 
der from  the  department  of  the  24th  March      But,  being 
apprized  of  the  equipment  of  the  enemy's  flotilla,  and  of 
their  intention  to  blockade  the  mouth  of  Otter  Creek 
leading  to  (he  t  .wn  of  Vergennes,  where  the  American 
fleet  lay  waiting  for  their  armament,  he,  notwithsti  nding 
this  order,  visited  the  capes  at  its  entrance,  conferred  with 
commodore  M'Donough   at  Vergennes,  a^nd  made  ar- 
rangements to  erect  a  battery  and  fortify  that  point.  This 
precaution  proved  to  be  qf  im  alculable  service,  and  am- 
ply provided  against  an  attempt  to  obstruct  the  passage 
ot  the  American  squadron  into  the  lake. 

On  the  13th  of  May,  not  long  after  the  battery  had  been 
constructed  on  the  Cape,  a  bomb  vessel,  and  eight  large 
row  gallies,  were  stationed,  by  the  enemy,  across  the  en* 
trance  of  the  creek,  with  a  view  to  its  blockade  and  i^^ 

Z2 


•  i    ) 


260 

cut  off  supplies  for  a  new  ship  juat  then  conipUiting,  and 
intended  to  be  added  to  the  American  squadron.  Captain 
Thornton,  of  the  light  artillery,  was  despatched  to  defend 
tlie  battery,  and  commodore  M'Donough  placed  a  number 
Df  sailors,  under  lieutenant  Cassin  of  the  navy,  to  co-ope- 
rate  with  the  artillery.    A  new  large  gun  brig,  and  several 
other  ffalUes,  being  at  the  same  time,  about  two  miles  m 
the  rear  of  the  bomb  vessel,  suspicions  were  cnteriained 
of  the  enemy's  intention  to  land  a  detachment  of  troops, 
either  to  capture  the  provisions  in  the  neighbourhood,  or 
to  assail  the  battery  from  the  rear.    General  Davw,  of  the 
Vermont  miliUa,  immediately  called  out  a  detachment  of 
his  brigade,  and  made  dispositions  to  resist  an  mvasion. 
At  day  break  on  the  morning  of  the  14th,  the  bomb  ship 
opened  her  battery  upon  the  new  works,  and  conUnued 
the  attack  upwards  of  two  hours,  without  domg  any  other 
injury  than  the  dismounting  of  one  gun.     Captain  Thorn- 
ton with  his  artillerymen,  and  lieutenant  Cassin  with  his 
sail'iirs,  returned  the  fire  with  constant  animation,  com- 
DcUedthe  enemy  to  withdraw  from  his  position,  and  cap- 
ured  two  gallies  which  the  British  seamen  were  obliged 
to  abandon.     The  bomb  ship,  and  the  remainder  of  the 
jrallies,  stood  off  to  the  other  vessels,  and  the  wtiole  squad- 
ron proceeded  down  the  lake,  passed  Burlington,  anuhad 
some  skirmishing  with  a  small  body  of  militia  under  ge- 
neral Wright,  who  manojuvred  so  well  as  to  persuade  the 
enemy  that  his  force  was  much  stronger.      During  the 
attack    commodore  M'Donough  attempted  to  bring  the 
\mei1cau  vessels  down  the  creek,  but  did  not  succeed 
in  reaching  the  mouth,  until  the  enemy  had  departed. 
*  The  enemy  were  not  less  active  in  their  operatiom 
alone  the  shores  of  the  Lake  Ontario ;  and  the  comman- 
ders of  the  rival  armaments  there,  lost  n^  time  in  prepa^ 
ins:  and  equipping  their  vessels,  to  take  the  lake  early  m 
the  soring.     At  the  close  of  the  preceding  autumn,  they 
had  manteovred  with  uncommon  skill,  though  not  with 
eaual  success,  the  one  to  draw  his  enemy  into  an  engage- 
ment,  the  other  to  avoid  fighting,  for  the  supremacy  of  the 
water  until  his  fleet  should  be  augmented  i>y  an  additional 
force '    At  Kingston,  an  immense  vessel  was  building  for 
that  ournose;  and,  at  Sackett's  Harbour,  a  new  ship  was 
ordered  of  a  sutficimt  size  to  maintain  the  existing  oqiiali- 
ty     Whilst  these  vessels  were  coflstructicg,  various  plans. 


2ai 


were  continually  adopted  to  destroy  them,  and  all  the 
caution  ol  one  party,  became  necessary  to  guard  against 
the  vigilance  of  the  other.  On  one  occasion,  the  25th  of 
April,  three  of  the  enemy's  boats  succeeded  in  getting 
close  in  with  the  harbour,  when  lieutenant  Dudley  of  the 
DRvy,  being  tiie  officer  of  the  guard,  detected  and  fired 
upon  them  Each  boat  was  provided  with  two  barrels 
of  powder,  attached  to  each  other  by  means  of  ropes,  and 
intended  to  be  placed  under  the  stocks  of  the  vessels.— 
Upon  being  fired  at,  tney  immediately  threw  the  powder 
into  the  lake,  to  prevent  an  explosion  of  their  own  boats, 
and  pulled  oflf  without  returning  a  shot. 

Failing  in  all  his  attempt*  to  destroy  the  hull  of  the  new 
Bhip,  the  British  comuiaa  ler  determined  upon  intercept- 
ing her  rigging,  naval  stores,  and  guns.    These  had  been 
deposited  at  Oswego,  about  60  miles  from  the  harbour, 
and  thither  sir  James  Yeo,  and  lieutenant  general  Drum- 
mend  resolved  to  sail  with  the  whole  fleet,  and  a  compe- 
tent number  of  troops  to  land,  and  storm  the  fort,  and  cap- 
ture this  valuable  booty.  Accordingly,  on  the  6th  of  May, 
fiir  James  appeared  before  the  fort,  with  four  large  ships, 
three  brigs,  and  a  number  of  gun  boa^^,  barges,  and  trans- 
ports.   The  transports  principally  containing  the  troops 
of  lieutenant  general  Drummond     The  succe«8ful  issue 
of  this  expedition  would  have  given  to  the  British  forces, 
for  a  time  at  least,  a  decided  superiority  on  the  lake,  and, 
without  knowing  that  the  stores  had  been  previously  re- 
moved from  Oswego,  they  commenced  an  attack,  which 
was  kept  up  for  nearly  two  days,  the  brilliant  and  unusual 
resistance  to  which,  did  not,  however,  avail  the  American 
garrison.     The  fort  mounted  but  five  old  guns,  three  of 
I /which  were  almost  useless,  and  had  a  shore  battery  of 
five  more  of  smaller  weight.     It  had  been  garrisoned  but 
a  few  days,  by  lieutenant  colonel  Mitchell  of  the  artillery, 
and  two  hundred  and  ninety  men.     The  schooner  Grow- 
er, having  on  board  captain   Woolsey  and  lieutenant 
Pearce  of  the  navy,  was  at  that  time  in  Oswego  creek,  re- 
ceiving the  cannon  which  had  not  yet  been  removed.  The 
enemy  were  no  sooner  discovered,  than  the  Growler  was 
sunk,  to  prevent  the  capture  of  the  cannon,  and  all  the 
tents  in  store  were  immediately  pitched  on  the  village  side 
of  the  creek,  to  persuade  the  enemy  that  the  Americans 
Were  numerous,  Under  lieutenant  Pearce,  the  few  sailors 

i 


1  If 


II 


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'I. 

I  MA 

m 


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(  f  >  ■     ■if, '. 


262 

of  the  Growler  were  added  to  the  garrison;  the  bhore  bat 
tery  was  coimnandetl  by  captain  Boyl?,  who  wasaecuud 
eU  by  lieutenant  Legate.  .... 

At  about  1  o'clock,  fifteen  large  boats,  crowded  with 
troops,  moved  at  a  given  signal  to  the  shore,  preceded  by 
several  guu  boats,  which  were  sent  foward  to  cover  llie 
landing ;  whilbt  ail  the  larger  vessels  opened  a  heavy  fire 
upon  the  little  fort.  The  contest  was  kept  up  with  great 
Tigour  and  equal  vivacity ;  the  fort  itself  returned  a  very 
-animated  fire  j  and  captoin  Boyle  succeeded  twice  m  re- 
pulsing  the  debarking  boats,  near  the  shore  battery,  and 
at  length  compelled  them  to  retire  to  the  shipping.  The 
whole  squadron  then  stood  off,  and  anchored  at  a  distance 
from  the  shore;  one  of  their  boats,  being  sixty  feet  lo 
length,  and  carrying  thirty-six  oars  and  three  sails,  was  bo 
much  shattered  that  her  crew  abandoned  her,  and  she  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  American  artillery. 

Though  the  British  were  thus  compelled  to  retire  from 
the  assault  of  the  fort,  it  was  by  no  means  to  be  suppoced 
that  they  had  relinquished  their  intention  of  storming  and 
possessing  it.  The  immense  superiority  of  their  force 
and  means,  would  not  justify  such  a  supposition,  and  co- 
lonel Mitchell  was  therefore  particularly  vigilant.  He 
stationed  picquet  guards  at  the  different  points  of  debar- 
kation, kept  his  men  upon  their  arms  during  the  night, 
and  neglected  no  measure  of  precaution.  Mortifieil  at  so 
successful  a  resistance,  by  a  force  known  to  be  so  much 
inferior,  and  protected  by  weak  batteries,  the  enemy  de- 
termined to  effect  a  landing  under  cover,  as  well  of  their 
large  vessels,  as  of  the  gun  boats,  and  at  daybreak  of 
the  6th,  they  approached  the  shore  again.  They  were 
early  discovered  coming  up  under  easy  sail,  and  soon 
after  the  principal  ship  the  Wolf,  and  the  other  frigates 
resumed  their  position  before  the  fort  and  battery,  whilst 
the  brigs,  schooners,  and  gun  boats,  proceeded  higher  up 
to  cover  by  their  fire  the  landing  of  the  troops.  The 
Wolf,  and  the  frigates,  kept  up  the  cannonade  for  three 
hours,  whilst  the  land  forces,  to  the  number  of  1700,  com- 
posed of  one  column  of  the  De  Watteville  regiment,  led 
by  lieutenant  colonel  Fischer,  on  the  left;  a  second  co- 
lumn of  a  battalion  of  marines,  under  lieutenant  colonel 
Malcom,  suppdrted  by  a  detachment  of  200  seamen  un- 
der captain  Mulcaster,  the  second  officer  of  the  fleet,  oa 


JUIL 


«68 

the  right,  succeeded  under  a  tremendoua  fire  from  (he 
brigs  and  schooners,  in  gaining  the  shore,  where  their  ad- 
vance was  resisted  by  lieutenant  Pearce  of  the  navy,  and 
a  smallparly  of  seamen.  The  landing  being  effected, 
colonel  Mitchell  withdrew  to  the  rear  of  (he  fort,  united, 
with  *he  siiilors,  two  companies  of  artillerymen,  under 
captains  Romayne  and  Mel v  in,  and  assailed  the  invad 
ing  columns,  whilst  the  companies  of  captains  M'lntire 
m\  Pierce  of  the  heavy  artillery,  engaged  the  enemy's 
flanks.  Thus  formed,  he  sustained  a  vigorous  and  des- 
perate conflict  upwards  of  thirty  minutes,  in  which  great 
slaughter  was  made  among  the  enemy,  and  a  severe  loss 
experienced  by  the  troops  of  the  garrison.  Against  a 
force,  however,  which  amounted  to  ten  times  their  own 
Dumber,  it  was  found  useless  for  the  Americans  longer  to 
•ontend,  and  colonel  Mitchell  accordingly  fell  back  about 
400  yards  from  the  enemy,  where  he  formed  his  troops, 
and  took  up  his  march  for  the  falls,  13  miles  in  the  rear 
of  the  fort,  upon  Oswego  river,  to  which  place  the  stores 
had  been  previously  removed.  He  retired  in  such  good 
erder  as  to  be  able  to  ilestroy  tba  bridges  in  his  rear,  not- 
withstanding he  was  pressed  by  a  numerous  foe. 

The  enemy  then  took  possession  of  the  fort,  and  bar- 
racks, but  for  the  little  booty  which  he  obtained,  consist- 
ing of  a  few  barrels  of  provisions,  and  whiskey,  he  paid 
much  more  than  an  equivalent.  His  loss  4n  killed 
amounted  to  70,  in  wounded,  drowned,  and  missing  165, 
in  all  236.  Among  these,  were  captain  Haltaway  killed, 
and  captains  Mulcaster,  Popham,  and  Ledergrew,  and  2 
lieutenants  and  one  master  wounded.  In  the  noble  and 
obstinate  resistance  which  they  made,  the  Americana 
lost  lieutenant  Blaney,  an  officer  of  high  promise,  and 
5  men  killed,  38  wounded,  and  26  missing,  in  all  69  men. 

On  the  morning  of  the  7th,  the  enemy,  l-ndin^  that  the 
object  of  the  expedition,  though  prosecuted  with  a  force, 
including  the  ships*  crews,  6f  3000  men,  had  not  been 
achieved,  evacuated  the  place  after  firing  the  barracks, 
spiking  some,  and  carrying  off  others  of  the  guns. 

On  the  9th  they  returned  to  Oswego,  and  sent  a  flag 
:nto  the  village,  informing  the  inhabitants,  of  their  intention 
oflandlnga  large  force,  to  proceed  to  the  falls^  for  the  exe- 
cution of  their  original  plan;  but  on  being  assured  by  the 
people  that  the  stores  had  been  removed  from  that  place, 


I 


! 


w 


■^m- 


264 


1    I.  'HXi'^ 


;    ■  1 


r.  . 


and  that  thu  communication  was  cut  off  by  the  destruer 
tion  of  the  bridges,  they  quitted  Oswego  and  stood  for 
Kingston. 

On  the  evening  of  the  12th,  4  ships,  2  brigi,  ar^d  5  gua 
boats,  of  this  squadron,  were  discovered  shaping  their 
course  for  Charlotte,  a  town  near  the  mouth  of  the  Gen- 
nessee  liver.  At  this  town,  a  corps  of  volunteers,  amount- 
ing to  160  men,  and  having  one  fiekl  piece,  had  been  sta- 
tioned foi  its  defence ;  and  the  commanding  officer,  on  the 
appearance  of  the  fleet,  immediately  despatched  expresses 
to  gen.  P.  B.  Porter,  who  arrived  there  carSy  on  the  mora 
ingof  the  13th. — ^In  answer  to  a  flag,  which  had  been  sent 
ashore  with  a  demand  for  the  surrender  of  the  place, 
general  Porter  returned  a  positive  refusal.  Two  gun  boats, 
carrying  between  2  and  390  men,  then  entered  the  river, 
and  opened  a  fire  upon  the  town  and  battery,  which  they 
continued,  with  little  effect,  for  an  hour  and  an  half.  The 
eoirmodore  sent  in  a  second  flag,  with  a  repetition  of  his 
demand,  accompanied  by  a  threat  to  land  1200  regulars, 
to  destroy  the  town.  By  this  time  the  women  and  chil- 
dren were  all  removed,  about  350  militia  collected, 
and  dispositions  made  to  cut  o£f  the  gun  boats,  if 
they  should  approach  further  up  the  river.  Being  well 
assured  of  the  determination  of  his  men,  to  resist  the  land- 
ing of  the  enemy,  general  Porter  repeateu  his  reply  to  the 
commodore's  demand.  At  8  o'clock  on  the  morning  of 
the  16th  the  gun  boats  retired  to  their  shipping,  after  hav- 
ing thrown  a  great  quantity  of  rockets,  shells,  and  round 
shot,  without  doing  any  material  injury,  and  the  fleet 
took  its  departure  from  the  vicinity  of  Charlotte. 

In  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  this  force  proceeded 
to  Poultney  ville,  a  vil'age  on  the  border  of  ♦.he  lake,  aud 
demanded  the  peaceable  surf'^nder  of  the  public  storse. 
The  inhabitants  were  incompetent  to  repel  the  invaders, 
and  the  British  commodore  landed  a  party  of  sailovs  and 
marines,  who  captured  a  quantity  of  damaged  flour,  and 
were  committing  depredations  upon  individual  property, 
when  the  arrival  of  brigadier  general  John  Swift,  of  the 
New  York  milith,  with  130  voluirfeers,  put  them  to  a 

Srecipitjate  flight.  Their  boats  hastily  pulled  off  to  the 
eet,  when  a  vigorous  cannonade  commenced,  and  seve- 
ral old  houses  were  pierced  through  by  the  18  and  24 
pound  shot.    The  enemy  did  Mot  attempt  to  re-land,  but 


/    — 

iiy,  and  the  fleet 


265 

won  Weighed  anchor,  and  beinff  ioin#.,i  w  «*i. 

of  the  squadron  s.ee/ed  foX!k^s%^l^^''  '''''"^ 

Nine  miles  distanf  from  the  harbonr  «^o  a    * 
chor,  in  different  positions/on  the  imh   *    ^^^u.*'*'*  ^' 
to  cut  off  an  comLidSriXtwelnU  lV".f '^  ^'^ 
on  the  lake.    The  new  ship  the  «C^^^ 
uncommon  beautv  and  dimViv^innf  Tf?T'   *  '"^ate  of 
ftere  on  the  Ist  of  the  moSh      »-       '  '*"°*'''^* 

capture  of  which  the  en^mvtH      '  .^^^"'P'nents,  for  the 

as  he  afterwards  did,  that  the  new  Swi,;?     •^.*™'J"^' 
armament,  and  equipping  wiS,  ffrrat'vnTSv  ^"^Tl^  '»«'^ 

uptheblockade,UUeedel^fhW^ 
Some  cannon  and  ArHr.»n^<.  «*     *"^°®®' 'o  Kingston. 

vessels  of  tr^^fcantTLd^^^^^^^  ^«'  ^''^ 

ved  at  Oswego.  fr<J^  Se  ic^rfor *    A^\T'^  "'"^'  *'^- 

intended  to  be  cilled  J ffirwaf  ?h.n''  "^7  ^"^«'' 

and,  to  prepare  her  for  Uie  latrt  Tif        ?  *""  ^''^  ^^"^'^s* 

thm  stSre?,  as  ^eUas^L't^m^^^^^ 

^^swego  falls,  were  indispenTbl^cessar  T  T"^"** 

port  them  by  land  would  be  attended  SdS-^'    ^°^ 

delays,  which  recent  experience  had  trlh./f*^*"'®'  *"^ 

commanders  to  a.oid,  anTc^rmot  ^c^^^^^^^^ 

noi- an  unobstructed  passage  to  the  lake   riS  5^'"^ 

Jhich  he  could  ascend  the  small  creeks  ilT^.J^  L" 
Je enemy,)  to  their  point  of  destinS  '  To^I!^  ^^ 
ritjrtothe  passage  of  the  barges  hrf^o!?-  iogive  secu- 
who  com^nde^d  the  I^TL^s^^^^^^^^ 
spat,  hed  major  Appline  of  thrrffl.  •  '**''*'*''"''  <*«* 
officers  and  menTco^^^^^^^^  '20 

»  escorting  the  fl  .tilla        Th^  h        ^*P^"?  Woolsey, 
^erethenattheiHlllnfO.J      ^T''  ^^  ^"  °"»nber 
movement  to  the  lakfcaS^  *«  *hei; 

^-eport  to  be  circuFatd   ST     "*"  '^^  '***'  <^«"sed  a 

f!:-ded  torSatk?vri:^sr^^^^^^^^^ 

•^"B^lkr  Si^iS:!  'iinj^ hovering  aboit  I^^^ 
trecKs,  which  discharge  themselves  into  the  lake  0«-. 


■r'- 


'B':* 


» 


m^A 


it'll 


\  * 


W  i 


m 

-  v^  ^H^^toil^ ' 

IV'  '\ 


I,  tf 


266 

tario,  and  examining;  every  cove,  by  t^e  aidof  which,  small 
barges  might  elude  their  vigilance.  On  the  28th  of  May, 
taptain  Woolsey,  having  previously  reconnoitred  the 
mouth  of  the  Oswego  cret^k,  and  finding  a  clear  coast, 
brought  his  flotilla  over  the  rapids,  and  reached  the  village 
of  Oswego  at  sunset.  Availhig  himself  of  the  darkHess 
Of  the  night,  he  put  into  the  lake,  with  major  Apphng 
and  his  men  distributed  in  the  several  batteaux.  A  small 
narty  of  Oneida  Indians  were  despatched  to  Big  Salmon 
fiver,  to  meet  the  flotilla  there,  and  to  proceed  along  the 
shore  to  Sandy  Creek,  in  which  captam  Woolsey  s  or- 
ders  obliged  him  to  make  a  harbour.  ,  ,     , 

At  the  dawn  of  the  29th,  after  having  rowed  twelve 
hours,  in  extreme  <larknes8  and  under  a  heavy  fall  of  rain, 
the  barges  arrived  at  Big  Salmon,  and  were  met  by  the 
Indians;  commanded  by  lieutenant  Hill  of  the  rifle  corps. 
The  flotilla  then  proceeded  on  its  passage,  and  arrived,m 
the  course  of  the  day,  at  a  point  two  miles  up  Sandy  creek. 
Thence  a  look-out  boat,  under  lieutenant  Pearce,  was 
despatched  on  the  30th,  to  reconnoitre  between  its  moutii 
and  Stoney  Point.    This  boat  was  discovered  by  three 
gun  boats,  three  cutters,  and  a  gig,  under  captam  Fop- 
ham,  and  chased  into  the  creek.     No  doubt  being  enter- 
tained that  the  enemy  would  pursue  lieutenant  Pearce 
UP  the  creek,   dispositions  were  immediately  made  by, 
major  Appling  and  captain  Woolsey  to  draw  him  into 
an  ambuscade.      He   very  soon  appeared,  and  at  8 
o'clock,  A.  M.  coinmRnced  a  cannonade  at  long  snot. 
At  10,  he  landed  a  party,  and  pushed  his  gun  boats 
and  cutters  up  the  creek,  occasionally  firing  into    he 
woods  a.  he  ascended.     Major  Appling,  who  had  posted 
his  men  in  a  judicious  manner  along  the  bank,  below 
the  point  at  which  the  American  barges  were  moored-- 
then  suddenly  rose  from  his  concealmen  ,  POured  upon 
the  enemy  a  rapid  and  destructive  fire,  and  m  ten  minutes 
killed  one  midshipmen  and  thirteen  sailors  and  marine  , 
wounded  two  lieutenants  and  twenty-eight  sadors  ana 
marin'^s,  and  took  prisoners  the  remainder  of  he  party, 
Tonsisliis  of  two  post  captains,  and  four  heutenants  of 
the  navy,  two  lieutenants  of  marines  and  one  hundred  m 
thirty-three  men.    The  whole  party  amounted  to  on. 
l...„,ww  «nil  Pifihtv-five.     The  gun  boats  and  cutters,  ne 
cessarily,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Americans,  wno  iO»^ 
but  one  man  slightly  wounded. 


*■•  > 


261 

A  squadron  of  dragoons,  under  captain  Harris,  and  a 
company  of  light  artillery,  under  captain  Melvin,  with  two 

mpi^r^';  %T^^  ^"  ^^^  neighbourhood,  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  action,  but  did  not  participate  in  it.- 
.TlJl^^'^V'''  soon  after  brevetted  a  lieute-nant  colo- 
ns ,  and  his  officers,  heutenants  M'Intoah,  Calhoun,  Mac- 
fatlana,  Armstrong,  and  Smith,  and  ensign  Austin,  were 
pubhc  y  thgiked,  by  the  commanding  general  officer,  at 
Sackett^s  Harbour.    Captain  Woolsey  and  his  officers, 

i?nTSi.^*S®'.'''"'"e  *"'*'**'"•  Vaughan,  and  midship* 
men  Mackey,  Hart,  and  Caton,  who  had  been  ordered  to 
Oswego  to  superintend  the  transportation  of  the  cannon 
and  stores,  acquitted  themselves  in  a  masterhr  and  cou- 
rageous manner.  ^    "U*A^U 

The  cannon  were  soon  after  transported  to  the  harbour, 
and  the  new  frigate,  Mohawk,  was  launched  on  the  11  th  of 
June,  and  very  speedily  armed  and  equipped  to  join  the 
squadron,  which  then  consisted  of  nine  vessels,  carrying 
in  all  about  251  guns.  "J""S 

The  result  of  this  affair  was  sensibly  felt  thrpughout  the 
British  fleet ;  it  deprived  them  of  a  number  of  experienced 
seamen,  and  several  valuable  and  intrepid  officers,  and 
they  were  compelled  to  remain  in  Kingston  harbour 
unUl  heir  places  were  supplied,  and  the  squadron  en- 
larged by^an  immense  new  ship,  then  buildmg  there,  and 
intended  to  carry  112  guns.  Commodore  Chauncey 
sailed  round  the  lake  in  the  course  of  the  month,  and 
frequently  stationed  himself  before  Kingston,  to  draw  out 
the  enemy's  squadron. 

Until  their  new  ship  was  completed,  they  determined, 
however,  to  remain  in  port,  and  in  that  interval,  no  hostile 
event  took  place  upon  Lake  Ontario.  Nor,  indeed,  was 
any  warlike  attitude  assumed  in  its  neighbouring  Lake 
t-rie,  or  the  Lake  Champlain,  bef<)re  the  commencement 
ot  the  summer.  Prom  the  borders  of  (he  latter,  lieuten- 
ant colonel  Forsythe,  of  the  rifle  corps,  on  the  28(h  of 
June,  made  an  incursion  r^nto  Canada,  as  far  as  Odelltown, 
wnere  an  arair  took  place  with  a  detachment  of  (he 
enemy,  from  the  post  of  La  Colle.  The  colonel  made 
An  attack,  retreated,  and  attempted  to  draw  the  enemy 
•nto  an  ambuscatle,  but-,  in  his  zea!,  fijafjQvered  hi-T-,'* 

boL«'*if'^S^..*T  ''*''"'  *"*^  **"  engagement 'took  "piSe 
"uore  the  British  were  ensnared.      Bcventeen  of  their 

A  a 


t  '8 


*'• 


liiiii, 


% 


i    ^:. 


I 


s*f 


268 

number  were  killed;  among  them  tiie  ^-elebrated  partizan 
commander,  captain  Mahue,  who  was  shot  by  heutenant 
Brr  Colonel  Forsythe,  who  had  heretofore  been  a 
terror  to  the  enemy,  was  wounded  in  th.  neck,  of  which 
wound  he  died  a  few  days  after,  and  was  buned  with  mi- 
Ey  honours  at  Chaiplain.  The  command  of  this 
cor/s  was  tSen  transferred  to  W^^'en'.nt  co>^^^^^^^ 

From  Erie,  colonel  Campbell,  of  the  19th  regimen , 
^rns^d  over  the  lake  with  600  men,  to  Long  Point, 
whee  he  landed!  and  proceeding  to  the  village  of  Dover, 
destroyed  the  flour  mills,  distilleries,  and  all  the  houses 
occupied  by  the  soldiers,  as  well  as  many  otherg  belongmg 
to  the  peaLble  inhabitants  of  the  village.    A  squadron 
of  British  dragoons,  stationed  at  that  place,  fled  at  the 
a~h  of  c^^^^^^^^  Campbell's  detachment,  and  aban- 
ffi  ttie  women  and  children,  who  experienced  humane 
Sment  from  the  Americans.     Colonel  Campbell  un- 
dertook  this  expedition  without  orders,  mf,  as  his  con- 
duct  was  generally  reprobated,  a  court  of  enquiry  v^as 
fnst  tS  to  examine  into  his  proceedings   of  which  ge- 
neral  Scott  was  president.    This  court  declared,  that  the 
Sestruaion  of  the  mills  and  distilleries  was  according  to 
the  usages  of  war,  but  that  in  burning  the  houses  of  the 
inhabS,  colonel  Campbell  had  greatly  erred.    This 
e^oM^y  attributed  to  the  recollection  of  the  scenes  of 
the  Raisin  and  the  Miami,  in  the  we«*«"^  territories,  to  the 
army  of  which,  colonel  Campbell  was  at  that  time  attach- 
ed   and  oi  the  recent  devastation  of  the  Niagara  fron  .en 
During  these  events  of  the  winter  and  spring  of  181^ 
the  British  had  collected,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
river  Thames,  and  at  the  Delaware  town,  situated  upon 
that  river,  a  very  respectable  force  of  regulars,  mihtia, 
and  Indians;  and  several  expeditions  were  planned  and 
B^t  on  foot  against  them,  by  colonel  Anthony  Butter,  who 
.    commanded^he  AmericaJi  forces  in  the  Michigan  tern^ 
torv     In  the  month  of  February,  captain  Lee,  who  had 
been  formerly  a  cornet  in  the  Michigan  Dragoons,  m 
sent  into  the  Winity  of  the  enemy,  with  about  14  mount- 
ed men.     Many  miles  in  the  rear  of  the  British  forces, 
he  made  prisoners  uf  several  officers,  and  among  ttiem 
the  famous  colonel  Baubee,  who  commanded  a  party  oi 
T«.r.-««    aart  assisted  in  the  depredations  committed  on 
thrSew  York  rentier.    Captain  Lee  contrived,  »y  D" 


% 


"^- 


4 


269 


udicious  management,  to  bring  them  over  to  Detroit  with- 
out detection. 

Upon  their  arrival  there,  colonel  Butler  projected  an 
enterprise,  under  captain  A.  H.  Holmes,  of  the  24th  re- 
giment, to  whom  he  assigned  the  command  of  160  ran- 
gers and  mounted  infantry,  and  despatched  him,  ftn  the 
21  st  of  February,  against  sovtrral  of  the  enemy's  posts. 
On  the  3d  of  March,  at  the  distance  of  15  miles  from 
Delaware,  captain  Holmes  received  intelligence  that  the 
enemy,  whose  force  consisted  of  a  company  of  100  men, 
of  the  Royal  Scotts,  under  captain  Johnson,  45  of  the  89th 
regiment,  under  captain  Caldwell,  60  of  M'Gregor's  militia, 
and  the  same  number  of  Indians,  being  in  all  246  men,  had 
left  the  village  with  an  intention  of  descending  the  rJVer, 
Captain  Holmes'  party  had  already  suffered  and  been  re- 
duced by  hunger  and  fatigue,  and  16  of  his  men,  who 
were  unable  to  march  further,  sent  back  to  Detroit;  with 
the  remainder,  he  did  not  deem  it  prudent  to  give  battle 
to  the  enemy,  without  the  advantage  of  the  ground,  and, 
therefore,  fell  back,  five  miles,  to  a  position  on  Twenty 
Mile  Creek,  leaving  captain  Gill,  with  a  rear  guard  of 
twenty  rangers,  to  follow. 

This  guard  was  overtaken  by  the  enemy,  and  after 
exchanging  a  few  shots,  eflTcctcd  a  retreat  to  the  position 
which  captain  Holmes  then  occupied  At  Twenty  Mile 
Creek  there  was  a  deep  and  wide  ravine,  bounded,  on 
each  side,  by  a  lofty  height.  On  the  western  height,  cap- 
tain Hohnes  had  established  an  encampment,  in  the  form 
of  a  hollow  square,  the  detachment  from  Detroit  being  on 
the  north  front  of  the  square,  the  rangers  on  the  west, 
and  the  militia  on  the  south,  and  all  protected  by  logs, 
hastily  thrown  together.  The  regulars  of  ihe  24th  and 
28th  regiments  were  stationed  on  the  brow  of  the  height, 
nncoyered.  In  this  situation  the  Americans  awaited  the 
attack,  and  captain  Holmes,  by  the  skilful  and  judicious 
manner  in  which  he  posted  himself,  compelled  his  supe- 
rior enemy  to  commence  it. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  4th,  the  British  appearing 
m  few  numbers,  on  the  eastern  height,  immediately  op- 
posite to  the  American  car^^,  gave  a  loose  fire  and  re- 
tired. Some  time  having  e  apsed  without  their  re  ap-^ 
pearance,  capt.  Holmes  despatched  lieut.  Knoxj  of  the 
WDgers,  to  reconnoitre  them,  who  performed  that  diity 


h4 


mm 


\t 


270 

with  alacrity,  juid  returned  with  an  account,  that  the  ene- 
my, whose  number  he  judged  to  be  not  more  than  70,  had 
retreated,  with  such  precipitation,  as  to  leave  his  baggage 
Icattered  on  the  road.  This  retreat  was  made  for  the  pur- 
pose of  drawing  the  Americans  from  the  height,  on  which 
the  British  officer  saw  they  were  so  advantageously  post- 
ed.   The  atienip*  was  attended  by  a  partial  success,  for 
the  American  commander  not  be!»g  wcU  assured  of  tl^e 
utrength  of  his  adversary,  descended  from  the  C:iT:i\*:  ftntt 
followed  him  in  his  retreat.   Captain  Lee,  who  commanu- 
ed  the  advance  in  this  march,  which  continued  five  miles, 
was  fortunate  enough  to  discover  the  enemy  in  full  force, 
preparing  for  a  resolute  attack.    The  policy,  which  had 
induced  the  British  officer  to  draw  the  American  from  his 
strong  ground,  judging  of  it  by  its  result,  Was  founded 
in  extreme  weakness.  Having  succeeded  in  seducmg  him 
to  a  distance  of  five  miles,  be  supposed  that  captaip 
Holmes,  with  an  inferior  detachment,  almost  worn  out 
witii  the  hardships  of  a  14  days'  march,  and  the  seventy 
of  the  weather,  would  pause  and  give  battle  to  a  body  of 
fresh  troops,  superior  in  numbers  and  in  discipline.    He 
therefore  never  attempted  to  improve  the  advantage  he 
had  gained,  by  detaching  a  strong  party  to  cross  the  rt" 
vine,  above  the  road  on  which  the  Americans  had  march- 
ed, and  to  occupy  the  position  which  they  just  nbahdoned. 
By  tliis  act  he  would  have  cut  oflf  all  communication  in 
the  rear,  and  compelled  captain  Holmes  to  disperse  his 
party  in  the  wilderness,  or  to  yield  at  discretion.  In  either 
of  these  cases  the  American  detachment  would  have  been 

destroyed. 

Captain  Holmes  fearing,  however,  that  the  enemy  had 
attempted  thus  to  cut  him  off,  immediately  retreated  to  the 
heights,  re-established  himself  in  his  encampment,  and  a 
second  time  compelled  the  British  regulars  and  ladians 
to  attack  him  on  his  own  ground. 

The  rangers  and  many  of  the  infantry,  not  knowing  the 
wisdom  nor  the  necessity  of  the  measure,  exhibitei 
great  marks  of  discontent  at  the  retreat,  and  many  ot 
them  refused  to  fight  the  enemy.  But  on  his  re-appear- 
ance upon  the  opposite  height,  one  impulse  animated  the 
whole  detachment,  which  resolved  on  repulsing  the  assail- 
ants. The  British  commander  then  made  a  disposition 
lo  iusiouge  laemf  anu  mrwvifHij^  ma  «««w£i  ««« ?• 


y; 


271 


across  the  raTine,  above  the  road,  he  orde?ecr  them  to  com- 
mence the  attack  upon  the  north,  south,  and  west  sides  of 

S^oZ^fT"*!!**"*'"''^  he  charged  down  the  road  from 
the  opposite  height,  crossed  the  bridge,  and  rushed  furiously 
up  the  height  occupied  by  the  Americans,  oir  their  east 
or  exposed  side,  mth  an  intention  of  changing  the  reeu- 

h:;k  ?'^''  '^^  ""'?.'  ""  sailing  fire,  whfch  diS  So 
check  hw  advances,  until  within  twenty  paces  of  his  oh 

r«L  I^r^^  front  section  being  sho?  to  pieced  and 
many  of  those  who  followed  being  wounded /his  princi- 
pa!  officers  cut  down,  and  the  fire  of  the  Americans Tn 
creasing  in  vitracity,  he  abandoned  the  assault  altogether 
^M^tf'^'7  in  the  neighbouring  vvood,  at  dTsfancea 
of  fifteen,  twenty,  and  thirty  paces.  Having  arrayed  kis 
forces,  he  commenced  a  rapid  fire  from  his  coverf  which 
was  warmly  returned,  and  encreased  on  both  sides!  From 
mose  parts  of  the  encampment,  protected  by  the  Iocb  the 
mngers  and  militia  fired  with  gU  coolne^ss  and^'rec' 
8ion.     The  regulars,  on  the  uncovered  side,  were  direct- 

brow  of  the  height  and,  by  these  means,  were  enabled  to 
fire  with  more  deliberation  than  their  assailants 
After  one  hours  conflict,  the  British  gave  up  all  hones^ 

ttt^^^  '  r  ^t^^h^?*'  ««^  «t  tw^ight  cLmenTed 
their  retreat  Captain  Holmes  did  not  pursue  them  be- 
cause hey  were  still  superior  in  numbers,  and  might 
araw  him  at  night  into  an  ambuscade,  in  a  country  much 
better  known  to  them  than  to  him;  and,  because  he  had 
already  gained  a  sufficient  triumph  in  repulsing,  and  de 
eating  the  object  of,  an  experienced  foe.  The  American 
OSS  amounte5  to  6  men  killed  and  wounded.  By  thd" 
own  official  report  the  enemy  lost  captain  Johnson,  lieu 

(Barden,)  lieutenant  McDonald,  and  49  men  wounded 
•nakuig  a  total  of  67.    The  whc'le  American  forceTnac- 
tionwa*.  160  rank  and  file,  many  of  whom  foi^^ht  and 
inarched  in  their  stocking  i'ceU  and  though^he  welther 
extremely  cold,  in  that  climate,  in  the  month  of  Feb- 

Bni '        ^^^^  I  ^^""^^  ^^«»  from   the  dead.     Cantain 
Holmes  soon  after  returned  with  his  detachment  to  the 

tUS  11lTV^"^.---l"-  thanks  'oTtel^o^! 


^ 


a 


-#i 


« 


27S 


#: 


went.  ^  He  tpoke  of  all  his  officers  ia  very  itattering 
terms,  but  particularly  of  lieutenants  Kouns  and  Henry, 
mA  ensign  Heard  of  the  28th,  and  lieutenants  Jackson 
ahd  Potter  of  the  S4th,  becau^  their  good  fortune  placed 
them  in  opposition  to  the  main  strength  of  the  enemy. 

After  tMs  event,  detachments  were  frequently  sent  out 
to  reeonnoitre  the  enemy's  country,  but  for  several  w^eki 
returned  without  being  able  to  encounter  any  of  his 
troops,  l^os^  on  the  American  side  of  Detroit  river, 
remained  therefore,  in  a  state  of  perfect  security ;  and 
the  commanders  of  the  laiid  and  naval  forces,  employed 
the  ^me  in  projecting  various  plans,  by  which  to  establish 
fortifications  on  the  Lake  St.  Clair;  to  cut  off  the  commu- 
nications between  Micbilimackinac  and  the  Indians ;  aad 
to  secure  the  ii^abitants  of  the  territory  Arom  their  incur- 
sions. 


r 


'i. 


ry  natteriog 
and  Heniy, 
wts  Jftckson 
rtune  placed 
te  enemy* 
ntly  Bent  out 
iveral  w^eki 
any  of  hi«i 
Detroit  rirer, 
Bounty;  and 
9,  employed 
li  to  efttabliah 
tbe  commu- 
[odiana;  and 
1  their  iocut' 


ii 


>    IJ 


Mt 


I?f-. 


^-t|  mi 


.  '^  /r  Iw^  pmx- 


(■/ri/-'r<K-    t'*^ 


DIIiyieM  'GIEHI'  BIROW^  lIT,g.Aimiij-, 


i 


CHAPTER  XVin. 

^^mmblcfge  of  the  l^  dimaion  of  the  army,  at  Black  RoeJt 
md  Buffhloe-^Capture  offort  Erie—Jlinericans  encamp 
gt  SlreeV^  Creekr^Skirmish  with  the  enemy* s  rear  guar4 

;  ^^ffaira  of  pic(fU£ta'--Battle  of  Chippewa-^British  re- 
treat to  Ten  Mile  Creek — American  army  encamps  a^ 
%Aeen9tqwn-^Death  of  general  Swifl— Movement  upon 

jfirt  George-^General  Brown  retires  to  Chipperva  Cr^H 
"^Battle  of  Niag<^a. 


TO  retrieve  the  disastrous  consequences  of  the  last 
jwrthem  campaign ;  to  regain  the  possession  of  the  posts 
W  Canada,  which  had  been  obtained  by  conquest,  and 
lost  by  the  inefficacy  of  the  means  provided  to  retain 
thcTOj  to  drive  the  enemy  from  the  occupancy  of  the 
American  garrison  at  the  mouth  of  the  Niagara;  and  to 
«ommaiui  the  frontiers  on  both  sides  of  that  stream; 
various  phms  had  been  projected,  numerous  dispositions 
wade,  and  measures  were  finally  adopted  for  their 
jchievement.  To  this  end,  general  Brown,  now  elevated 
Jo  the  rank  of  m^or  general,  was  ordered  to  assemble, 
^nd  orga?jize  a  division  of  the  army,  at,  and  in  the  neigh- 
lourhood  of  Black  Rock  and  Buffaloe.  This  division 
consisted  of  two  brigades  of  regulars,  the  first  command- 
ed by  brigadier  general  Scott,  formerly  of  the  2d  artillery, 
^nd  the  second  by  brigadier  general  Ripley,  former- 
ly of  the  21st  infantry.  To  these  were  added  a  brigade 
wNew  York  volunteers,  and  a  few  Indians,  under  briga- 
'*er3  genCfal  Porter  and  Swift.    During  the  months  fif 


27^ 


April,  May,  and  June,  (1814)  the  concentration  of  this 
force  was  effected,  and  the  principal  part  of  that  Ume 
employed  in  its  discipline. 

The  first  step,  towards  the  accomplishment  of  the  ob< 
jects  of  the  present  campaign,  was  the  assault  and  capture 
of  fort  Erie,  at  that  time  in  command  of  mi^or  Buck,  and 
garrisoned  by  170  officers  and  men  of  the  8th  and  1 00th 
regiments.  On  the  morning  of  the  3d  of  July,  therefore, 
in  obedience  to  general  Brown's  orders,  the  two  brigades 
of  regulars  embarked  for  that  purpose.  General  Scott, 
with  the  first,  and  a  detachment  of  artillery,  under  major 
Hindman,  crossed  to  the  Canada  shore,  about  one  mile 
below  fort  Erie,  and  general  Ripley,  with  the  second, 
about  the  same  distance  above.  The  landing  of  the  se 
cond  brigade  was  attended  with  much'  difficulty,  in  cor 
sequence  of  the  imposi^bility  of  approaching  the  shore, 
with  the  gun  boats,  in  which  it  had  embarked.  The  de- 
barkation was,  therefore,  effected  in  two  sma^  boats,  ca- 
pable of  containing,  at  one  time  not  more  than  60  meni 
The  first  brigade  was  on  the  shore  before  a  gun  was  fired 
by  the  enemy,  who  had  a  picquet  stationed  near  the  place 
of  landing.  From  these  two  points,  on  the  right  and  left, 
the  fort  was  rapidly  approached  by  the  regulars,  whilst  a 
party  of  Indians,  who  had  been  crossed  over,  skirted  the 
wood  in  its  rear.  The  garrison,  entirely  unapprized 
of  these  movements,  was  completely  surrounded,  and 
veneral  Brown  demanded  the  quiet  surrender  of  the 
post.  A  few  guns  only  were  fired,  which  wounded  four 
men  of  the  25th  regiment,  under  major  Jessup,  of  the  first 
brigade,  when  major  Buck  surrendered  the  fort  to  the 
invading  army.  Immediate  possession  was  taken  of  the 
garrison,  and  the  prisoners  were  marched  to  the  interior 
of  New  York.  The  passage  of  the  troops  across  the 
channel,  and  the  conveyance  of  the  nrisoners,  to  the 
American  shore,  wu^  superintended  uj  '.  •*  ^nant  com- 
mandant Kennedy,  of  the  navy. 

Mi^or  general  Riall,  with  a  division  of  the  British 
army,  constituted  of  the  best  disciplined,  and  more  ex- 
perienced European  regulars,  was  at  this  time  intrenched" 
at  Chippewa,  and  thither  it  was  determined  the  Ameri- 
« JUs  should  proceed  to  attack  and  route  him.  Arrange- 
•i^t^fs  were,  therefipre,  made  for  the  security  of  the  fort, 
«.»/<  4ito  nrntAriinn  of  the  American  rear,  bv  the  esta- 

KKXS      ^»«---      i"— -  — — .    -  ,  _ 


m  'W . 


37S 


fi^ 


bllnhment  of  a  small  garrison,  qiider  lieutenant  M'Dq- 
nough,  of  t|ie  artillery,  and  the  disposition  of  iHe  marme 
force,  near,  and  in  front  of  the  fort. 

On  the  moiiiijjg  of  the  4th,  general  Scott  received 
order*  to  at^ance,  with  his  brigade  and  Towson'^  com- 
pany of  artillery,  upon  €.  ippewa.  In  the  course  of  the 
lame  day  he  was  followed  by  general  Ripley,  and  the 
Held  and  parH  artillery,  under  m>jor  Hindman,  and  by 
general  Porter  and  his  volunteers.  On  the  right  bank 
of  Street's  creek,  two  miles  distant  from  the  British 
work; ,  the  army  was  drawn  up  in  three  lines,  the  first 
))np;adc'  facing  Street's  creek  and  the  bridge,  the  second 
hri'^adc,  forming  the  second  line,  and  the  volunteers  the 
third.  The  park  of  artillery  was  stationed  on  the  right 
•f  the  encampment,  between  the  first  and  second  lipe, 
ifld  the  light  troops  were  posted,  within  the  same  spacf, 
«A  the  left. 

Iq  its  ap|)roache8,  from  fort  Erie,  along  the  Niagara, 
to  this  position,  the  first  brigade  encountered  the  ad- 
vanced corps  of  the  enemy,  strongly  posted  behind 
this  creek.  General  Scott  immediately  ordered  cap- 
tain Towson  to  go  forward  with  his  artillery  and  dislodge 
ttem.  That  gallant  officer,  in  a  few  umutes  <;ompellad 
them  to  fall  bach,  though  not  until  they  bad  intrepidly 
destroyed  the  bridge,  over  which  the  advancing  columil 
would  be  obli^d  to  pass. 

About  the  time  at  which  captaip  Towson  opened  hia 
battery  upon  the  enemy,  captain  Crooker,  of  the  9th 
infantry,  had  been  directed  to  flank  out,  to  the  left  of 
the  brigade,  to  cross  the  stream  above  the  bridge,  and 
to  assail  the  right  of  the  enemy's  guard.  This  move- 
ment was  made  with  so  much  celerity,  thaj  captain 
Crooker  reached  the  enemy's  position,  and  was  in  full 
pursuit  of  him,  when  the  brigade  column  arrived  at  the 
oridge.  After  retreating  a  short  distance,  the  British 
commander,  being  aware  of  the  impossibility  of  captaia 
Crooker  receiving  a  reinforcement,  of  suilicient  strength 
to  combat  the  impetuosity  of  well  appointed  cavalry, 
until  the  bridge  should  be  replaced,  ordered  his  dragoons 
to  turn  upon,  and  cut  up  the  detachment.  Under  the  eye 
of  the  general  commanding  the  brigade,  and  before  the 
pioneers  had  rendered  the  bridge  passable,  captain  Crodfe>. 


#, 


( 


f^T     Wag     C|iiiii>/\1in#lA/l 


li^ 


'^       C»     SiUU^vi  V^l9 


ir. ' 


■■*■ 


'-i' 


M 


lf«np  of  the  l^ritish  Iffth.  Urn  brave  detachment,  dev 
termined  to  cut  through  tbb  superior  force,  fought  their 
way  to  a  house,  not  far  from  the  place  of  attack,  and 
having  gained  it,  turned;  at  the  order  of  ttieir  com- 
mander, upon  the  pursuing  horsemeii,  and  having  first 
struck  terror  into  their  ranks,  put  them  to  a  flight,  pre- 
cipitate, as  their  attack  had  been  impetuoKii.  At  this, 
moment,  captain  Crooker,  whose  men  might  well  be 
«r;n«;.8ted  afier  so  vigorous  an  engagement,  was  relieved 
from  all  apprehension  of  another  assault  from  a  fresh 
boJy  of  troops,  by  the  arrival  of  captains  Hull  and  Har- 
rison, and  lieutenant  Randolph,^  with  a  small  party  of 
men  who  had  been  hastily  thrown  across  the  stream  to 
his  support.  «  In  partiaan  war,"  the  general  of  brigade 
observed,  "  he  had  witnessed  nothing  more  gallant,  thao 
the  conduct  of  captain  Crooker  and  his  company'* 

At  11  o'clock,  in  the  evening  of  that  day,  the  encamp- 
^ment  was  formed  m  tlie  manner  already  described ;  and 
early  on  the  morning  of  the  6th,  the  enemy  commenced  an 
attack  in  various  detached  parties,  upon  the  picquet  guard* 
surrounding  it.  One  of  these  was  commanded  by  captaiD 
Treat,  of  Uie  21  st  infantry,  and  on  its  return  to  the  camfi. 
th'oueh  s  meadow  of  high  grass,  was  assailed  by  a  bnak 
discharge  of  musqiietry.  One  man  fell,  severely  wound- 
ed, and  the  rear  of  the  guard  broke  and  retreated.  Cap- 
tain Treat's  attempts  to  prevent  the  .flight  of  the  left  of 
his  detachment,  were  mistaken  for  an  intention  to  avoid 
the  enemy  ;  and  though  he  was  ordered  to  a  neighbour- 
ing  wood,  his  guard  being  first  collected  m  pursuit  of 
the  party  that  had  attacked  him,  he  was  immediately 
after  stripped  of  bis  command,  upon  the  ground  of  cowar- 
dice, in  retreating  before  the  enemy,  and  of  misconduct, 
in  abandoning  the  wounded  man  to  their  mercy,  m 
man  had,,  however,  been  brought  in  by  captain  Treats 
orders,  previously  to  his  march  in  quest  of  the  enemy's 
party.  Being  resolved  on  a  participation  in  some  way 
or  otiier  in  tiie  approaching  batUe,  the  captain  entered  as 
a  volunteer,  in  the  same  company  which  he  had  jus 
before  commanded;  and  the  senior  officer  of  the  2lst 
regiment,  directed  him  to  lead  a  platoon  into  action. 
ppLi-  5>„f  .„as  fnnsidprftd  as  a  manifestation  of  his  courage 
^rpatiiotisnii^'and  the  court  martial  before  which  he 
was  tried,  dismissed  him  with  an  honourable  acquital. 


detachment,  dev 
rce,  fought  their 
8  of  attack,  and 
r  of  Uieu'  com* 
and  having  first 
i  to  a  flight,  pre- 
liamia.  At  this  ^| 
a  might  well  be 
ent,  was  relieved 
ult  from  a  fresh 
ins  Hull  and  Bar* 
a  small  party  of 
[)8S  the  stream  to 
general  of  brigade 
loce  gallant,  thaa 
J  company^.'* 
day,  the  encamp- 
y  described ;  and 
ly  commenced  an 
the  picquet  guards 
landed  by  captain 
3turn  to  Ihe  camBi 
issailed  by  a  brisk 
,  severely  wound- 
I  retreated.  Cap- 
ight  of  the  left  of 
intention  to  avoid 
d  to  a  neighbour- 
5ted  in  pursuit  of 
was  immediately 
;  ground  of  cowar- 
nd  of  misconduct, 
leir  mercy.  This 
)y  captain  Treat's 
set  of  the  enemy's 
tion  in  some  way 
captain  entered  as 
rhicb  he  had  just 
officer  of  the  21st 
itoon  into  action. 
tion  of  his  courage 
I  before  which  ha 
arable  acquital. 


ftl 


I'P 


^T^ 


au 


:.* 


^k 


III. 


MAJois  c;kn!^  wiNriKi-i>    sc'OTT 


■t 


277 

Th6  vivacity  of  these  assaults  upoir  the  picquetA 
gmpflaiy  diminished  until  mid-dajr,  after  which  they 
were  revived  with  unabatiog  vigour.  General  Riall,  well 
acqiiainted  with  the  position  of  the  American  forces,  and 
aware  of  their  intention  to  attack  him,  det<^rtn:ned  upon 
issuing  from  his  intrenchments,  and  by  striking  the  first 
blow  to  intimidate,  and  probably  throw  into  disorder  the 
whole  line  of  the  invading  army » With  this  view,  he  crossed 
the  Chippewa  with  every  species  of  his  force,  threw 
his  right  flank,  his  Indians,  and  a  large  detachment  of  his 
light  troops,  into  the  wood,  on  the  left  of  tiie  American 
eDcampnieht,  4nd  approached,  gradually,  with  his  main 
body  upon  the  left  bank  of  Street's  creek.  The 
movement  in  the  wood  was  discovered  early  enough  to 
frustrate  the  design  of  the  British  commander,  and  ge- 
neral Brown  ordered  general  Porter  to  advance,  with  thj& 
volunteers  and  Indians,  from  the  rear  of  the  camp;  to 
conceal  himself  from  the  enemy's  view,  by  entering  the 
wood;  to  drive  Inck  his  light  troops  and  Indians;  and,  if 
possible,  to  gain  the  rear  of  his  scouting  parties,  and  place 
them  between  his  line,  and  the  division  of  regi:!ars.  As 
general  Porter  inoved  from  the  encampment,  the  Ame- 
rican outposts  and  advanced  parties  fell  back,  under  the 
fire  of  the  enemy,  in  order  to  draw  him  upon  the  centre 
dP  the  front  line. 

General  Porter  met,  attacked,  and,  after  a  short  but 
severe  cbntest,  drove  the  enemy's  right  before  him.  His- 
route  to  Chippewa,  was  intercepted  by  the  whole  British 
column,  arrayed  in  order  of  battle,  and  against  this  pow- 
erful force,  the  volunteers  desperately  maintained  their 
ground,  until  they  were  overpowered  by  the  superiority 
of  discipline  and  numbers- 

As  soon  as  the  firing  became  regular  and  heavy,  be- 
tween the  volunteers  and  the  enemy,  general  Brown 
rightly  conjecturing,  that  all  the  British  regulars  were 
engaged,  immediately  ordered  general  Scott's  brigade, 
and  Towson's  artillery,  to  advance  and  draw  them 
into  action  on  the  plains  of  Chippewa.  General  Scott 
had  no  sooner  crossed  the  bridge  over  Street's  creek, 
than  he  encountered,  and  gave  battle  to  the  ,  enemy; 
Captain  Towson  commenced  his  fire  before  the  infantry 
battalions  were  in  battle  array,  and  upon  their  beinjr  form- 
ed, took  post  on  the  river,  with  three  pieces,  in  front  of  the 


'"^1 


% 


m^ 


I 


t     •       1^     In 


278 

extreMfe  right,  ftnd  thence  played  UJioto  the  firitishbatte 

■Mes. 

^fe  9th  regiiDcnt,  and  part  of  the  22d,  forming  the  first 
brtttalion,  Under  major  Leavenwortti,  took  position  on  the 
right;  the  second  battalion,  (llth  regiment)  was  led  to 
its  station  by  colonel  Campbell,  who,  being  soon  wound- 
ed, was  succeeded  in  the  command  of  that  regiment  by 
inajor  M'Nfelll.  The  third  battalion,  (25th  regiment)  was 
fdriiied  by  thajor  Jessup,  on  the  left,  resting  in  a  wood. 
ttom  this  position,  that  officer  was  ordered  to  turn  the 
enetny's  right  wing,  then  steadily  advancing  upon  the 
American  line.  Whilst  this  order  was  in  execution,  and 
iessup's  battalion,  engaged  in  an  animated  contest,  with 
the  British  infantry,  he  detached  captain  Ketchum,  with 
his  company,  to  attack  a  superior  detachment,  at  that 
moment  coming  up  to  the  reinforcement  of  the  body, 
Against  which  the  25th  was  engaged.  Captain  Ketchum, 
ianked  oUt,  encountered  the  fresh  detachment,  and  sus- 
tained 8l  vigorous  and  desperate  engagement,  until  the 
battalion  cleared  its  own  front  and  marched  to  the  support 
4>f  his  company. 

This  fortunate  consummation  of  his  plan,  the  major 
did  not  effect  without  a  violent  struggle.  The  British 
gave  him  ain  animated  and  destructive  tire;  his  men  wore 
falling  around  him  in  numbers  too  great  to  leave  him 
any  hopes  of  victory ;  and  he  became,  at  len2;th,  close- 
ly pressed,  both  in  ilank  and  front.  His  regiment,  never- 
theless, betrayed  not  the  least  disposition  to  falter,  and 
promptly  obeyed  his  order  to  "support  arms  and  ad- 
vance'^ under  this  tremendous  fire,  until  a  position  of 
more  security  waa  gained.  From  this,  he  retHrned  the 
enemy's  fire,  with  such  order  and  rapidity,  that  the  Bri- 
tish right  flank  fell  back,  and  the  battalion  was  enabled  to 
come  up  in  time  to  co-operate  with  captain  Ketchum'e 
detachment.  ,    , 

The  whole  line  of  the  enemy  began,  about  this  time 
to  recoil.     On  the  American  right,  the  battalion  of  major 
Leavenworth,  was  not  only  engaged  with  the  British  in- 
fantry, but  frequently  exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  batteries. 
'    One  of  his  officers,  captain  Harrison,  had  his  leg  carried 
-ec  1 ^   u^w    K„f  Drt  rirkiiiiifnl    nt  Hiat  moment. 

on     Uy    U     unuilUli     wail,     ;-rui  av     T.t^-fviff.«-..,    — • 

did  he  consider  the  isyuc  of  the  battle,  tltat  he  would  no.t 
suffer  a  man  to  be  taken  from  his  duty,  to  bear  him  from 


2T& 


e  fiHtisb  batte 


the  tield,  aad  supported  the  torture  of  his  wound,  with 
extreme  fortitude,  until  the  action  ceased. 

Major  M'NeiH's  battalion  was  also  engaged,  from  the 
commencement  until  the  close  of  the  action,  and,  togeth- 
er with  major  Leavenworth's,  received  the  enemy  on  the 
open  plain ;  of  these  the  9th  and  22d,  were  parallel  to  the 
attack,  but  the  1 1th,  had  its  left  thrown  forward  s<  as  to 
assail  in  front  and  flank,  at  the  same  time.  Thus  posted, 
majors  Leavenworth  and  M'Neiil  resisted  the  attacks  of 
the  enemy,  with  great  gallantry  and  zeal.  On  this  end 
of  the  line,  the  fire  was  quite  as  incessant  as  on  the  left, 
and  its  effect  not  less  destructive ;  but  the  troops  display- 
ed an  equal  degree  of  animation. 

After  ,the  lapse  of  an  hour,  from  the  commencemeii^i 
of  the  battle^  captain  Towson,  who  had  maintained  his 
position  on  the  river,  notwithstanding  one  of  his  pieces 
had  been  thrown  out  of  action,  having  completely  si- 
lenced the  eneaay's  most  powerful  battery,  turned  his  re- 
maining pieces  ov  the  infantry,  at  that  moment  advancing 
to  a  charge.  This  accumulation  of  fire;  the  effective  dis- 
charges of  M'Neili's  musquetry,  peculiarly  effective  from 
their  oblique  position;  the  steadinessof  the  two  battalions ; 
and  the  apparent  issue  of  the  engagement  between  Jesup's, 
and  the  British  right  wing,  compelled  gen.  Riall  to  retire, 
until  he  reached  a  sloping  ground,  descending  to  Chip- 
pewa. From  the  point  formed  by  Uiis  ground,  his  troops 
fled,  in  confusion,  to  their  intrenchments  behind  the 
creek,  and  having  regained  their  works,  retarded  the 
approaches  of  the  conquerors,  by  means  of  their  heavy- 
batteries,  on  which  alone,  they  relied  for  safety  in  the 
event  of  their  being  obliged  to  retire. 

About  the  time  they  commenced  their  charge,  major 
Hindman  had  ordered  forward  captain  Ritchie's  company 
of  artillery,  and  one  piece,  a  12  pounder,  under  lieute- 
nant Hall.  'They  arrived,  in  time  only  to  participate  in 
the  close  of  the  action,  but  joined  captain  Towson,  in 
pursuing  Che  enemy,  under  the  fire  of  his  batteries^ 
until  he  threw  himself  into  the  intrenchments. 

Whilst  the  first  brigade  was  thus  gallantly  engaged 
With  this  superior  force,  in  which  were  included  the 
100th  regiment,  under  lieutenant  colonel  the  marquis  of 

iW00t\ihlo     on/l   ilija  l}/\wa1    Q/t/^fc     iitiflot*  lioiifor-QTif*  orkl^vkAl 

(i^oi^on.      General  Ripley,  whose  brigade  was  alreatj^ 

Bb 


>> 


IV'i 


*l 


280 

formed  in  line  of  battle,  proposed  to  the  commanding 
general,  to  pass  the  left  of  the  first  brigade;  to  turn  the 
enemy's  right;  and  by  taking  a  position  in  his  rear, 
prevent  his  retreat  to  the  Chippewa.  But  as  the  volun- 
teers were  at  that  moment  falling  back  from  the  woed, 
on  the  left  of  the  field,  general  Brown  was  of  opinion 
that  an  attack  would  be  made  in  that  quarter,  and  deem- 
ed the  presence  of  general  Ripley's  brigade  necessary  to 
receive  and  repel  it.  At  the  moment  of  their  retreat, 
iowever,  he  determined  to  follow  up  the  victory,  by 
advancing  against  their  works  with  all  his  ordnance,  and 
directed  general  Ripley  to  adopt  the  proposition  he  had 
made.  But  such  was  the  precipitation  of  the  retreat,  that 
this  movement  became  unavailing,  and  en  the  jeport  of 
two  reconnoitring  officers,  major  Wood  of  the  engineers, 
and  captain  Austin,*;  an  aid  to  the  general,  as  to  the  situ- 
ation and  security  of  the  enemy's  works,  general  Brown 
was  induced  to  order  all  his^roops  back  to  their  encamg- 

meht. 

This  sanguinary  battle,  resulted  as  may  well  be  sup- 
posed, in  an  immense  loss  on  both  sides.  That  of  the 
Americans,  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  amounted 
to  328 ;  sixty  of  whom  were  killed.  Among  the  wound- 
ed, were  colonel  Campbell,  captains  King,  of  the  22d, 
Read,  of  the  26th,  and  Harrison,  of  the  42d,  but  doing 
duty  with  the  9th ;  lieutenants  Palmer  and  Brimhall,  of 
the  9th,  Barron,  of  the  11th,  and  De  Witt  and  Patchira, 
of  the  25th.  Tlie  loss  of  the  British,  in  killed,  wounded, 
and  prisoners,  was,  according  to  general  Brown's  report, 
308;  but,  by  lieutenant  general  Drummond's  returns,  there 
were  139  killed,  320  wounded,  and  46  missing,  making 
a  total  of  606 ;  so  that  the  number  of  tl»e  wounded  Bri- 
tish, was  nearly  equal  to  the  aggregate  loss  of  the 
Americans.  Among  these  were  the  marquis  of  Twee- 
dale,  lieutenant  colonel  Gordon,  lieutenant  colonel  Dick- 
son, captain  Holland,  aid  de  camp,  to  general  Riall,  7 
captains,  17  lieutenants,  and  4  other  subalterns. 

The  liveliest  testimonies  of  the  applause  of  the  people, 
and  the  honourable  approbation  of  the  government  were 
<riven  to  generals  Scott  and  Porter.  The  brevet  rank  of 
Ueutenant  colonel  was    conferred  upon  majors  Jesup, 

L^.TAnixrnrtk     9n<1  M^NTaiII  •  skuA  oP  tnninr.  iinon  caotaius 

Towson,  Crooker,  and  Harrison.    But  there  were  other 


281 

gallant  and  distinguished  officers,  who  shared  in  the 
perils,  and  the  fortunes  of  that  day.  Among  the  most 
conspicuous  of  these  were  lieutenants  Wortli  and  Watts, 
aids  to  general  Scott;  lieutenant  Smith,  his  lyajor  of 
brigade;  major  Wood,  of  the  engineers,  who  superintend- 
ed the  construction  of  the  works  at  fort  Meigs,  during 
the  memorable  siege  of  that  garrison ;  captain  Harris,  of 
the  dragoons;  and  lieutenant  M'Donalu,  of  the  second 
brigade,  who  penetrated  a  wood  and  annoyed  the  ene- 
my's Indians. 

Intelligence  having  been  communicated  to  lieutenant 
general  Drummond,  of  the  defeat  of  major  general  Riall, 
that  officer,  was  immediately  reinforced  at  Chipi)ewa,  by 
the  8th  or  King's  regiment,  from  York ;  on  the  arrival  of 
which,  he  disposed  his  troops  in  such  order  as  to  re- 
pulse an  assault  from  the  Americans.  General  Brown 
meanwhile,  remained  at  his  encampment  at  Street's  creek, 
and  on  the  8th  of  the  month,  determined  upon  an  at- 
tempt to  dislodge  general  Riall.  General  Ripley  was 
for  this  purpose,  ordered  to  proceed,  with  his  brigade,  to 
a  point,  three  miles  above  the  British  works,  on  the 
Chippewa,  to  open  a  road  of  communication  between 
Street's  Creek  and  that  point ;  and  to  construct  a  bridge 
over  the  Chippewa,  for  the  passage  of  the  troops.  This 
order  was  executed  with  great  secrecy,  and  without  loss 
of  time,  and  the  artillery  was  brought  up  in  the  course  of 
the  day,  to  cover  the  pioneers,  whilst  constructing  the 
bridge.  The  enemy  had  no  knowledge  of  this  move- 
ment, until  the  brigade  arrived  at  the  creek,  and  the 
artillery  was  already  planted  near  its  margin.  General 
Riall,  was  then  informed,  by  his  outpost,  of  these  opera- 
tions, and  hastily  forwarded  a  detachment  of  the  royal 
artillery,  to  check  them.  A  cannonade  ensued ;  but  suc|i 
was  the  effect  produced  by  general  Ripley's  artillery,  that 
the  British  pieces  were  withdrawn,  the  bridge  was  soon  af- 
ter completed,  and  general  Riall,  apprehending  an  attack, 
on  his  right  flank  and  in  front,  from  the  formidable  arrange- 
ments, which  he  saw  in  preparation,  abandoned  his  line 
of  defences,  and  retreated  by  the  road  to  Queenstown. 
General  Brown  occupied  the  enemy's  works  that  even* 
ing,  and  on  the  following  morning,  (the  9th,)  pursued  the 

rniifo  ie\  Cktioanatnxxrn.      1?J«1I  hsirV  hnu'pvpr.  fptirpd  to  tHfi 

Ten  Mile  Creek. 


I*.'*.       <! 


«   ; 


i^J 


282 


At  Queenstowii,  the  American  army  tva«  thon  en- 
eampeil,  and  the  commanding  general  held  a  conncil  of 
war,  for  the  purpose  of  maturing  a  plan,  of  future,  and 
decieive^operDtiona.  On  (he  12th,  brigadier  general  John 
Sw'ft,  second  in  command  to  general  Forter,  and  th« 
same  who  had  put  the  British  marines  to  flight,  at  Poult- 
neyvUle,  having  offered  to  reconnoitre  the  enemy's  posi- 
Uon  at  fort  George,  was  detached  with  120  volunteers, 
to  obtain  a  view  of  those  works.  On  his  arrival,  within 
its  neighbourhood,  he  surprized  and  captured  an  out-post, 
consisting  of  a  corporal  and  five  men;  one  of  these,  after 
having  surrendered  to  the  detachment  and  requested 
quarters,  availed  himself  of  an  advantageous  moment^ 
treacherously  tired  at,  and  ^hot  the  general,  who,  notwith- 
standing the  suddenness  of  the  attack,  and  the  severity 
of  his  wound,  instantly  levelled  his  piece,  and  killed  the 
assaasin.  The  alarm  produced  by  this  fire,  brought  up  a 
llritish  patrolling  party,  of  60  men,  against  Whom  general 
Swift,  regardless  of  the  pursuasions  of  his  officers,  to 
attend  to  his  wound,  marched  at  the  head  of  his  detach- 
ment, and  commenced  an  attack,  which  resulted  in  th« 
retreat  of  the  enemy*8  party.  The  general,  however, 
whoFd  wound  was  mortal,  fell,  exhausted  by  the  loss  of 
blood,  before  the  termination  of  the  skirmish.  His  next 
officer,  beat  the  patrolling  party  into  the  fort,  and  returned 
to  the  encampment  at  Queenstown,  with  the  body  of  his 
expiring  commander.  General  Swift,  whose  loss  was 
sincerely  deplored  by  the  whole  army,  and  who  had 
served  with  <listinguished  reputation,  during  the  war  of 
the  revolution,  was  interred  with  the  usual  ceremonies, 
and  honours  of  a  soldier.  The  whole  volunteer  brigade, 
to  which  the  general  was  attached,  solicited  an  opportu- 
tunity  to  avenge  the  fall  of  their  brave  officer;  and  an 
opportunity  was  not  long  wanted. 

At  the  consuUation^  which  was  held  by  gen  Brown,  and 
his  principal  officers,  a  plan  of  attack  upon  fort  George,  was 
proposed;  and,  to  the  prejudice  of  a  proposition,  submitted 
by  gen.  Ripley,  of  following  up  gen.  Riall;  of  driving  him 
from  the  peninsula;  or  of  striking  as  severe  a  blow,  as 
tliat  which  he  had  received  at  Chippewa,  and  thus  totally 
to  annihilate  his  force;  was  adopted  by  a  majority  of  tlie 
couDciK  In  order  to  ascertain  the  nossibility  of  captur- 
ing that  fort,  by  a  coup  de  mairiy  the  second  brigade  and 


f.M: 


Uie  volunteers,  were  directed  to  reconnoitre  it  in  the  moflt 
secret  manner.  Whilst  general  Hipicy  upproacheil  alon^ 
the  Niftgnra,  general  Porter,  to  whose  brigade  was  attach- 
ed two  tield  pieces,  under  captain  Ritchie,  of  the  regular 
artillery,  advanced  by  the  way  of  St.  David's  and  the 
CroBs  Koads,  to  Lake  Ontario,  whence  he  could  obtain 
a  full  view  of  fort  Niagara,  and  enable  the  principal  en 
gineer,  major  Wood^  to  examine  the  works  on  that  side 
of  fort  George.  After  viewing  the  northern  face  of  fort 
Niagara,  general  Porter  moved  in,  upon  firt  George, 
drove  in  all  the  enemy's  picquets,  and  formed  his  brigade 
ill  the  open  plain,  within  a  milo  of  the  fort.  To  enable 
the  engineer  to  examine  the  works  with  more  certainty, 
he  ordered  lieutenant  colonel  Ullcocks  to  advance  with 
his  command,  under  cover  of  a  small  wood,  within  mus- 
ket shot  of  the  garrison.  These  positions  were  miiin- 
tuined  upwards  of  an  ho.ur  and  an  half,  during  which 
lime  the  British  batteries  opened  upon  the  troops  on  the 
plain*  Several  detached  parlies,  sent  out  to  attack  the 
volunteer  light  troops,  were  successively  repulsed,  and 
the  object  of  the  expedition  being  accomplished,  general 
Porter  moved  round  the  south  side  of  the  fort,  and  joined 
general  Ripley's  brigade  on  the  Niagara.  As  he  retired, 
tlie  enemy  sent  out  several  pieces  of  tield  artillery,  and 
conmi-^nced  a  rapid  fire  upon  his  rear.  The  brigade, 
ho'vever,  moved  oflf  in  good  order,  with  two  men  wound- 
ed; lieutenant  Fontaine,  of  the  artillery,  and  an  otficer  of 
'-'dunteers,  ha<l  theii  horses  killed  under  them,  by 
ion  bail.  In  his  approaches  to  the^lake,  general 
!■'  '')emed  it  necessary  to  station  vedettes  upon  tho 

Sc  i  roads  leading  to  the  fort.  Five  of  these  were 
captuied  by  a  party  of  20  Canadian  miUtia,  residing  in 
tlie  neighbourhood,  and  some  of  whom  had  been  in  the 
American  encampment,  professing  to  avail  themselves 
of  the  terms  of  general  Brown's  proclamation,  issued 
upon  entering  Canada,  "  that  all  persons  demeaning 
"  themselves  peaceably,  and  pursuing  their  private  busi- 
"  ness,  should  be  treated  as  friends." 

To  give  more  certainty  and  effect,  to  the  assault  of 
forts  George  and  Niagara,  and  to  the  occupation  of 
Queenstown,  St.  Davids,  and  Newark,  general  Brown, 
previously  to  his  passage  of  the  Niagara  strait,  had  adopt- 
«d  measures  ia  conftmction  with  commQdwe  Chaimcey, 

»  b  2 


A' 


I' 


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m 

H 

284 

for  the  co-opcratkon  of  tlio  American  squadron.  On  the 
20th  of  July,  he,  therefore  moved  with  hia  whole  force 
upon  fort  George,  and  look  a  position  with  a  portion  of 
his  troops  on  Luke  Ontario,  as  well  with  a  view  to  at- 
tempt that  garrison,  as  to  obtain  some  intelligence  of  the 
ffeet.  Commodore  Chauncey's  extreme  illness  prevent- 
ed the  sailing  of  the  fleet  from  the  harbour,  and  general 
Brown  apprehensive,  of  an  attack  upon  the  rear  of  his 
army,  and  of  his  communication  with  the  encampment 
being  cut  off,  by  the  militia  then  raising  en  masse,  fell 
back  to  Queenstown  on  the  22d,  to  protect  his  baggage. 
Having  there  received  intelligence  of  the  detention  of 
the  fleet,  he  determined  to  disencumber  the  army  of  its 
heavy  baggage,  and  to  march  against  BurUngton  Heights, 
on  the  peninsula  between  which  and  Erie,  the  enemy  had, 
in  the  mean  time,  concentrated  his  principal  forces.  To 
draw  from  Schlosser,  a  supply  of  provisions,  neces- 
sary to  this  expedition,  he  retired  on  the  241  h,  to  the 
junction  of  the  Chippewa  and  Niagara:  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  9th  regiment,  the  army  encamped  on  the 
right  bank  of  the  Chippewa.  That  regiment  was  posted, 
on  the  north  side  of  the  stream,  'n  and  near  a  block 
house,  in  the  advance. 

Lieutenant  general  Drummond,  anxious  to  redeem  (he 
tarnished  reputation  of  the  British  arms,  and  having  now 
augmented  his  force,  so  as  to  feel  capable  of  oifering 
battle,  without  any  doubt  of  its  successful  result,  for- 
warded a  division,  under  general  Riall,  to  Queenstown, 
who  occupied  the  heights  there,  immediately  after  their 
abandonment  by  the  Americans.  Prom  Queenstown, 
general  Riall  threw  a  large  detachment  of  his  troops, 
across  the  Niagara,  to  Lewistown,  with  a  view  to  the  cap- 
ture of  the  American  sick  and  wounded,  at  that  time  in 
the  hospital  at  Schlosser,  and  the  destruction  of  the  bag- 
gage, ammunition,  &nd  provisions,  deposited  at  that 
place.  By  expresses  from  colonel  Swift,  commanding 
at  Lewistown,  general  Brown  was  informed  of  this  move- 
ment, and  almost  at  the  same  moment,  a  picquet  station- 
ed beyond  the  9th  regiment,  reported  an  advanced  party 
of  the  enemy  on  the  Niagara  road.  To  draw  him  from 
his  purposed  pillage  of  Schlosser,  general  Brown,  having 
uo  immediate  means  of  bringing  o£f  his  sick  and  stores, 
nor  of  tmaeportiDg  troops  to  their  defence,  ordered  g«- 


mm 


285 

ncrul  Scott  to  uiovc  with  his  brigade,  Ihtu  coribiating  of 
about  700  men,  ami  Towboii's  nilillery,  Btill  uttaelietl  to 
it,  in  the  direction  of  Queenstown. 

At  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  25th,  (July)  the  first 
brigade  moved  from  the  encampment,  in  light  marching 
order,  the  9th  regiment  being  in  front  of  the  column, 
and  captain  Harris,  with  a  troop  of  regular  and  volunteer 
(Irugroons,  and  a  company  of  infantry,  under  captain 
Pentland,  of  the  22d,  constituting  an  advanced  corps. 
About  two  miles  and  a  half  from  the  Chippewa,  and 
within  a  short  distance  of  Hie  falls  of  Niagara,  the  Ame- 
rican and  British  advanced  parties  came  within  view  of 
each  other,  and  general  Stott  halted  his  column  to  re- 
connoitre the  ground,  and  make  arrangements  for  the 
reception,  or  attack,  of  the  enemy.  Lieutenant  colonel 
Leavenworth,  with  the  9th.  consisting  then  of  only  150 
men,  was  immediately  ordered  to  take  the  left  of  the 
road,  within  supporting  distance  of  the  column,  which, 
on  the  execution  of  this  order,  again  moved  forward;  the 
enemy  retiring  before  it.  On  an  eminence,  near  Luivi'y 's 
Lane,  at  a  point,  chosen  by  major  general  Riall,  because 
of  the  decided  advantage  of  the  ground,  the  enejny  was 
posted  in  great  strength,  with  a  formidable  battery  of 
nine  pieces  of  artillery,  two  of  which  were  brass  2^ 
pounders,  and  an  extensive  and  hervy  line  of  infantry. 
This  position  was  extremely  favourable  to  the  operations 
of  the  battery,  and  there  the  British  general  had  long 
wished  to  engage  the  troops,  who  had  corapslled  him  to 
retire  from  every  other,  at  which  battle  had  been  pre- 
viously given  tJiem. 

On  the  arrival  of  general  Scott's  column,  at  a  narrow 
strip  of  woods,  by  which  only  the  British  line  was  ob- 
scured from  his  view,  captains  Harris  and  Pentland  were 
first  lired  on,  and  galfantly  engaged  the  enemy's  advance, 
which  had  gradually  retreated,  to  draw  the  American 
column  to  the  situation  at  Lundy's  Lane.  The  brigade 
column  was  again  immediately  halted,  lieutenant  colonel 
Leavenworth  ordered  to  his  situation,  and  lieutenant  co- 
lonel Jesup,  with  the  25th,  detached  to  attack  the  left 
of  the  British  ]\m.  The  9tk,  llth,  and  22d.  passed  the 
advanced  corps,  and  moving  to  the  north  of  the  wood, 
entered  a  smooth  field,  in  full  view  of  the  enemy,  and'**' 
wiJ^n  caimister  distaace  of  his  h^itery,     yhe  rear  ol 


y# 


h  ■ 

|| 

f  . 

If 

i> 

u  ' 

ik  ■ 

III 

M 

186 

the  column  Maviu-^  clcarcil  llitr  wood,  general  Scott  or- 
dered Uio  lino  to  be  instantly  formed.  Tliia  order  wa* 
not  executed  before  the  Britiah  opened  a  tiemondoua 
lire  from  their  battery,  and  the  whole  line  of  their  infan- 
try drawn  up  on  its  right,  and  obli(|uely  in  its  front. 
Tow8on,  with  hia  artillery,  was  stationed  on  the  right  of 
the  9th,  and  though  they  could  not  be  brought  to  bear 
upon  the  eminence,  he  animated  the  American  hne,  by 
an  incessant  discharge  from  all  his  pieces. 

Iliui  drawn  up  on  both  side?,  the  action  continued, 
with  unceasing  animation,  upwards  of  an  hour,  against  a 
force  then  almost  thrice  superior  to  the  American  bri- 
gade. In  the  course  of  that  time,  the  11th  and  22a  re- 
giments, having  expended  theh:  ammunition,  colonel 
Brady  and  lieutenant  colonel  McNeill  being  both  severely 
wpundcd,  and  all  the  captains  of  the  former,  and  most  of 
the  otficers  of  the  latter,  either  killed  or  wounded,  botli  re- 
giments were  withdrawn  from  action,  and  many  of  the  of- 
licers,  but  principally  subalterns,  attiiched  themselves  to 
the  9th,  and  fought  under  its  gallant  chief,  in  various  ca- 
pacities, and  with  unusual  courage  and  perreverance. 
Amon«"  these  were  lieutenant  Crawford  and  lieutenant 
and  adjutant  Sawyer.  Against  the  chief  part  of  the 
British  line,  lieutenant  colonel  Leavenworth,  with  the 
remains  of  the  9th  alone,  continued  the  engageirent, 
with  unshaken  firmness  and  bravery ;  and  was  at  length, 
directed  to  advance  and  charge  up  the  height,  and,  with 
the  11th  and  22d,  to  break  the  enemy's  lirie.  Reduced, 
as  these  three  regiments  already  were,  by  the  excessive 
loss  of  officers  and  men,  they  nevertheless  steadily  ad- 
vanced, with  supported  arms,  until  general  Scott,  learning 
the  shattered  condition  of  the  1 1th  and  22d,  counter- 
manded the  order. 

The  enemy  was  at  this  m*oment  pressing  upon  the 
left  of  the  line ;  the  right  of  tiie  9th,  was  therefore 
thrown  forward  to  meet,  and  repulse  him,  and  the  whole 
regiment,  commenced  a  fire  more  animating,  if  possible, 
but  certainly  more  destructive  than  the  first  It  is  scarce- 
ly possible  to  do  justice  to  the  conduct  of  this  gallant 
TPffimenL  or  of  its  intrepid  commander.  It  had  already 
^ven  such  signal  instances  of  individual  valour,  as  were 
never  surpassed  upon  an  open  field.  But  valour  aloje, 
is  not  competent  to  resist,  the  repeated  assaults,  (»» 


tid  was  at  leagtb, 


tiumeroMs  and  increftging  foe:  and  .imin*.*  «  Ar^A-  • 

communicate  its  condition.       Th»  Mno^i  h     ■      i'    " 
i|.»C  informed  of  the  apil^.d.'^'?  S^ etmf  ?Z 

Kime^'Zl '.""'?  ''"""""-Wy  •<>  «he  position  of \^S 
repmen    and  directed  it  to  maintain  'I,  cround 

e.r  ireu'ten:n"t't'n;  ""?  !^<=«"<'"'  -'o'nZtring  offl- 
cer,  het^tenant  Riddle,  of  the  16tli  infantry    liad   been 

Z  t^'^cou'r  theTn"""^'  i"'""  «  ""'^  <•'  "ke' h'und^e'S 
Sed  mZ  li»„  '""■'!;"«'"'«  """"'"•y-  He  had  not  pro- 
ceeaeu  more  than  3  miles  from  the  encampment  when 
in  attempting  to  gain  the  rear  of  a  sconrKe  enemy' 
ewa.  informed  by  several  of  the  inhabi Lmt,  of  hi' 
AlT  im:Tfr  »,*".^'™  °f  3000  of  the  BiSlIh'tlp 
Al  the  time  of  hia  leaving  the  camp,  general  Brown  had 

lieatenaBt  Riddle,  therefore,  hastened  back,  with  all  dos- 
«We  speed,  to  communicate  th*  intelligerce.  The 
nature  of  the  ground,  over  which  he  had  to  retrace  hi^ 
steps,  and  the  extreme  caution  with  which  S  wafncco 
»ry  to  proceed,  to  avoid  reconnoitring  detachme"ts  of 
a-e  enemy,  len^hened  his  distance  from  the  head  ona^- 

position  of  the  Americans  at  Chippewa,  when  he  was 

SI  "','1*  """""«  of  «"«  "Vstile  armies,  by  The 
repealed  and  heavy  discharges  of  artillery.       Naturallv 
concluding  that  general  Brown's  whole  force  had  nrn 
«ded  to  the  field  of  battle,  and  nbt  hesitating  a  momTt" 

tTa  n»ri?."    ,^     -^.r  ■'"'"'•  «"•'  i'nme'llately  marched 
m  the  fiTl'°"f  "  '•''*  -"S-Sement.      This  detachmen 
onh.«^l  •""?"''""«  P'"^y  "'•!<'''  "fived  to  the  relief 

Ih.  1  f       '   }^  ''■'•eet"'ns  to  lieutenant  Riddle  to  watch 
Ihe  mo  lons  of  the  British  riflemen  and  Indians 

*toft.,eac,io„,a„d;fi,ss^;Si;:;^SS^. 


Ir^ 


4*' 


t  . 


..1  .   f 


•  '*.. 


299 

»ernl  Ripley  to  follow  with  the  second  brigade,  was  already 
on  his  way  to  the  falls,  when  he  met  the  assistant  adju- 
tant general,  major  Jones,  returning  to  the  encampment, 
at  full  speed,  for  reinforcements.    The  intelligence  com- 
municated by  major  Jones,  induced  the  commander  in 
chief,  to  despatch  him,  to  order  up  general  Porter's  vol- 
unteers, in  addition  to  the  second  brigade,  and  the  park 
of  artillery.     General  Brown  ttien  rode  hastily,  with  his 
aids,  accompanied  by  major  M'Ree,  of  the  Engineers, 
towards  the  field  of  battle,  and  on  his  further  advance, 
was  met  by  a  second  messenger;  major  Wood,  also  of 
the  engineers,  and  who  had  marched  with  general  Scotl»6 
brigade.     From  this  gallant  and  accomplished  officer,  he 
received  a  report  of  the  close  and  sanguinary  character 
of  the  action,  and  directed  him  to  return  with  him  to  the 

field.  ,         ,  „_ , 

Exhausted  and  reduced  as  the  9th,  11th,  and  22tl  re- 
giments already  were,  another  vigourous  onset  from  the 
enemy,  sufficiently  numerous  to  interpose  occasionally 
a  fresh  line,  might  probably  decide  the  fate  of  the  day, 
before  the  arrival  of  the  approaching  reinforcements. 
The  determined  and  obstinate  manner,  however,  m  which 
they  had  already  received,  and  repulsed,  the  gallant  and 
repeated  charges  of  the  British  infantry,  induced  major 
general  Riall  to  overrate  their  force.  But  to  whatever 
measure  of  strength  these  intrepid  regiments  amounted, 
he  knew  also,  that  the  number  of  his  combatants  would 
be  augmented  from  the  camp  at  Chippewa,  and  being  as- 
sured of  the  necessity,  in  that  event,  of  enlarging  his  owd 
force,  he  despatched  messengers  to  lieutenant  general 
Drummond,  at  fort  George,  to  inform  him  of  the  despe- 
rate nature  of  the  confiict.  UnUl  this  period  of  the  en- 
gagement, his  force;  including  the  incorporated  militia 
and  some  Indians,  amounted  to  1637  men,  being  more 
than  <louble  the  strength  by  which  he  Vas  opposed. 

Major  o-eneral  Brown  arrived  at  the  scene  of  this  ob- 
stinate st"rugde,  about  the  time  at  which  general  Scot 
ordered  the^9th  regiment  to  maintain  its  ground,  am 
seeing  the  exhausted  state  of  the  troops,  and  the  shattered 
condition  of  the  brigade,  determined  on  holding  it  m  re- 
_    -  _i-M_i.  ii :.,fu..i:r><i>  fp/^ftnc  cihniilit  continue  tne 

^   engagement.     The  9th,  11th,  and  22d  regiments,  were 
,, therefore  consolidated  into  one  battalion,  under  colonel 


% 


>0W 


men,  being  more 


28U 

Brady   who,  though  wounded,  refused  to  quit  the  field, 

«".!!  ,V'T^\  "I^  .**'*  engagement  should  be  known. 
General  Ripley's  brigade,  major  Ilindman's  artillery,  and 
general  Porter's  volunteers,  all  of  whom  had  marched 
wi  h  unusual  rapidity,  over  a  difficult  road,  were  Jiow 
within  a  short  distance  of  Lundy's  lane.  General  Ripley 
being  in  the  advance,  and  within  half  a  mile  of  the  field, 
immechately  despatched  his  aid  de  camp,  lieutenant 
M  Donald,  of  the  19th  infantry,  to  inform  general  Brown 
01  Ills  approach,  and  to  receive  instructions,  as  to  the 

of  Wa  bri^  d*^^  ^^^^y*  *"**  °"^^''^'  *^  ^^  ^he  disposition 

Immediately  before  the  arrii^l  of  general  Ripley,  a 
temporary  pause  prevailed  between  the  two  armies  ;  an 
awful  and  (but  for  ihe  groans  of  the  wounded  soldiers,) 
an  unbroken  silence  was  preserved  among  the  troops  on 
!l?o!«  f'^J'^J^'e  impetuous  descent  of  the  stupendous 
ca  aract  of  the  Niagara,  alone  interrupted  the  pervadine 
stillness,  and  contributed  to  the  solemnity  and  grandeur 
of  the  scene;  and  the  leaders  of  both  forces,  having  fallen 
Dack  to  their  original  positions,  seemed  mutually  dis- 
posed, to  a  momentary  cessation  of  the  sanguinary  and 
fahgumg  strife.  The  arrival  of  these  reinforcements, 
under  general  Ripley,  and  of  others,  under  lieutenant  ee- 
neral  Druramond,  put  an  end  to  this  suspension  of  hos- 
iiiiues,  and  the  engagement  was  renewed  with  augmented 

Major  Hindman's  artillery  being  brought  up,  the  com- 
panies of  captains  Biddle  and  Ritchie,  in  addition  to 
lovvson  s  detachment,  soon  came  into  action,  and  gene- 
ral I'orter's  vofiioteers  were  displayed  upon  the  left  of 
general  Scott's  brigade.  Lieutenant  M'Donald,  who  had 
o^en  despatched  for  orders,  having  met  captain  Spencer,' 
one  of  the  aids  of  the  commander  in  chief,  bearing  or- 
<lers  for  the  second  brigade  to  form,  on  the  skirts  of  the 
wood,  to  the  right  of  the  first,  immediately  returned  to 
Seneral  Ripley  with  these  directions. 

Meanwhile  the  25th  regiment,  under  lieutenant  colo- 
nel Jesup,  which  had  been  ordered,  in  the  early  part 
01  the  action,  to  take  post  on  the  right,  had  gallantly 
contended  against,  and  succeeded  in  turn!n«»'fhe  enem'-'g 
jeit  flank.  Lieutenant  colonel  Jesup,  availing  himself  of 
ifie  extreme  darkness  of  Ihe  night,  and  of  the  incwition 


«?.). 


w 


i 


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290 

of  the  BriUsh  general,  in  not  placing  a  proper  guard  acrog. 

a  road  upoa  hi  left,  threw  his  regiment  in  the  rear  of  the 

enemy's  reserve,  and  surprising  one  detachment  after 

anSr,  made  prisoners  of  so  many  of  the.r  officei^  ami 

men  that  the  operations  of  his  fire  arms  were  constantly 

mpet^d.  General  Drummond,  who  was  now  command^ 

rTn  person  the  front  line  of  the  enemy,  having  dete^ 

mfned  Sn  concentrating  his  whole  force,  and  leading  ,t 

^?he  attack  of  gerieral  Scott's  brigade,  in  front,  and  on 

each   flank?  bad^lespatched  his  aid  de  camp,  captam 

fnlrto  bring  up  general  Riall  with  the  reserve.     I 

wa  thi  ^ood  fo'rtune'however,  of  captain  Ketchum,  of 

Ws  regiment,  whose  eminent  services  greatly  contributed 

to  he  vSious  issne  of  the  battle  at  Chippewa  to  make 

Irisoners  of  major  general  Rlall,  who  was  wounded  m  the 

Lm  and  the  aid  of  lieutenant  general  Drummond,  before 

"^Z  rcrnl^rntf1;neral  Kiall's  line  with  that 
of  general  Drummond  been  effected,  the  reduced  brigade 
!lmrr«rd  now  only  of  the  consolidated  battalion,  could 
3  this  mom;^t:Ld  without  the  support  of  the  second 
Stade  have  withstood  the  assault  of  so  overwhelmmng 
a  fo?^'  and  the  movement  of  lieutenant  colonel  Jesup, 
?blrefX  unquestionably  saved  that  battaH- ^^^^ 
hiQiilv  adoDted  proper  arrangements  for  the  disposal  oi 

te  LX  where  the  warmest  fire  was  kept  up,  upon  he 
br^re  to  which  he  belonged.      Eastwardly  of  Lundy  s 

Sand  on  the  south  of  the  Qu«e"^ow\^5>t.'^' ^^^^S 
up  hs  regiment  behind  a  fence,  ^o^"  7»;!fj»  *^^.^^^^^^^^ 
effectually  annoy  the  enemy.  A  party  of^^^/fte 
fantry  were,  at  that  time,  drawn  up  m  front  of  a  lence, 
on  thL  oppo'site  side  of  the  same  road.  Lieutenant  colo^ 
«Al  IPsnn's  anoroach  to  his  present  position,  had  been 
m  d'     iS-o  -  that  they  ^»i<i -t  kno^  he 

was  there,  until  they  received  a  deadly  and  de  tiuct  ve 
rr  whirh  coraoelled  them  to  break  and  fly  along  the 
.  'q^UI'^L  3"  By  the  blaze  of  tl|s  ^re^^^^^^^ 
Colonel  Jesup  was  discovered  to  majof  f  »?*«»  ^[^^ 
who  rode  up,  applauded  his  conduct,  and  directed  h.m 
^  _        ,._"V  ..l.ai''a  1  on.,    and  form  uoon  the  nght  oi  j 

the  second  brigade. 


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!r  guard  acrosit 
the  rear  of  the 
achment  after 
>ir  officers  ami 
ere  constantly 
iow  command- 
,  having  dete^ 
and  leading  it 
1  front,  and  on 
camp,  captain 
B  reserve.  It 
I  Ketchum,  of 
itly  contributed 
tpewa,  to  make 
wounded  in  the 
mmond,  before 

3  line,  with  that 
educed  brigade, 
battalion,  could 
rt  of  the  second 
overwhelmuing 
;  colonel  Jesup, 
talion.    Having 

the  disposal  of 
felt  his  way,  to 
it  up,  upon  Ihe 
[rdly  of  Lundy's 
rn  road,  he  drevr 
which  he  could 
>f  Ihe  British  in- 
front  of  a  fence, 
Lieutenant  colo- 
•sition,  had  been 
[lid  not  know  he 

and  destructive 
nd  fly  along  the 
s  tire,  lieutenant 

genctal  Brown, 
md  directed  him 
loou.  the  right  of  j 


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291 


The  operations  of  that  brigade,  were  all  this  time  car* 
ried  on  with  the  utmost  brilliancy  and  success.  Wheu 
his  aid  de  camp  communicated  the  order  of  the  com- 
mander in  chief,  general  Ripley  saw  the  impracticability 
of  operating  upon  the  enemy,  from  the  position  at  which 
he  was  directed  to  display  his  column  j  or  of  advancing 
from  it,  ill  line,  upon  an  emergency,  through  a  close  wood. 
At  the  same  moment  too,  general  Drummond's  infantry 
and  all  his  artillery,  had  commenced  a  galling  fire  upon 
general  Scott's  brigade,  which  could  only  be  supported 
by  a  direct  movement  of  the  second  brigade,  upon  the 
centre  of  the  enemy's  line.  The  impenetrable  darkness 
of  the  night,  rendered  it  difficult  for  the  generals  of  bri- 
gade, at  all  times  to  find  the  commander  in  chief,  or  each 
other,  and  genernl  Ripley,  therefore,  determined  to  as- 
sume a  responsibility,  by  adopting  in  time,  the  only 
movement,  which  could  save  the  first  brigade  from  in- 
evitable destruction,  and  ultimately  achieve  the  victory. 

He  therefore  proposed  to  colonel  Miller,  the  same  whO« 
had  distinguished  himself  in  the  earliest  stage  of  the  war, 
at  Maguaga,  and  whomow  commanded  the  twenty-first 
or  Ripley's  old  regiment,  to  storm  the  enemy's  battery 
with  that,  whilst  he  would  support  him  by  leading  up  the 
twenty-third,  a  younger  and  less  experienced  regiment, 
to  a  charge'upou  the  British  flank.  Colonel  Miller,  well 
knowing  the  perilous  nature  of  this  desperate  duty,  re- 
plied to  his  general,  "  Vll  Iry^  nV,"*  and  immediately  put 
his  regiment  in  readiness  by  forming  it  in  line,  on  the 
left  of  the  road,  directly  in  front  of  his  object.  The 
twenty-third  was,  at  the  same  time,  formed  in  close  co- 
lumn, by  its  commander,  major  M'Parland,  and  thes  first 
which  had  arrived  that  day  under  lieutenant  colonel 
Nicholas,  from  a  long  and  fatiguing  march,  was  directed 
to  menace  the  enemy's  infantry.  Whilst  these  disposi- 
dons  were  making,  general  Ripley  despatched  his  aid  to 
apprize  general  Brown  of  the  impossibility  of  forming  on 
the  skirt  of  the  wood,  and  of  the  measures  which  he  had, 
in  consequence,  adopted.  The  commander  in  chief 
highly  commended  the  design  of  the  brigadier  /general, 
and  instantly  authorized  its  execution.  With  hearts  pant- 
ing for  the  accomplishment  of  this  enterpriise,  these  re^- 

•  Worda  afterwards  worn  on  the  buttona  of  the  twenty  first 
regiment. 

Cc 


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xukwis  moved  forward,  under  a  rapid  and  destructive  fire, 
directed  against  them,  at  their  very  onset,  by  the  ene- 
my's whole  line  of  muaquetry,  and  every  piece  of  his 
caulion.  The  twenty-first  nevertheless  promptly  pressed 
forward;  tWte  twenty-third  faltered.  It  was  however 
instantly  rallied  by  the  personal  exertions  of  general 
ilipley,  who  led  it  up  to  the  contemplated  charge.  At  a 
distance  of  little  more  than  one  hundred  yards  from  the 
top  of  the  eminence,  on  which  the  British  cannon  were 
Jiosted,  and  which  tr '  "pginieuts  were  necessarily 
bbliged  to  ascend,  they  ed  another,  and  equally  as 

severe  a  discharge  from  w..o  musque^ry  and  heavy  pieces. 
The  twenty -first  was  now,  however,  too  much  enamoured 
©f  its  otgect,  and  the  twenty-third  too  obstinately  deter 
mined  Ota  retrieving  its  fame,  to  betray  the  smallest  dis- 
position, to  recoil  from  the  near  consummation  of  their 
bold  and  hazardous  enterprize.     By  this  fire   major 
M*Farland  of  the  twenty-third  was  killed,  and  the  com- 
mand of  that  regiment  devolved  upon  major  Brooke,  an 
officer  of  no  less  intrepidity  and  valour.    The  descrlp- 
tion  of  a  more  brilliant,  and  decisive  movement,  may 
sever  have  been  registered  on  the  page  of  history.    To 
the  amazement  of  the  whole  British  line,  colonel  Miller 
steadily  and  silently  advancing  up  the  eminence,  until 
within  a  few  paces  of  the  enemy's  cannon,  impetuously 
<:harged  upon  the  artillerists,  and  after  a  short  but  despe- 
rate contest,  carried  the  whole  battery,  and  instantly 
'formed  his  line  in  its  rear,  upon  the  same  ground  on 
which  the  British  infantry  had  been  previously  posted. 
In  cartrying  the  heaviest  piec*  s,  the  twenty-first  regiment 
experienced  severe  losses,  se    iral  officers  of  distinguish- 
ed bravery  and  merit,  being  either  killed  or  wounded, 
lieutenant  Cilley,  who  commanded  an  advanced  com- 
pany <:»f  that  r«giment,  by  a  resolute  and  unexampled 
effort,  carried  one  of  the  guns,  and  fell  wounded  by  its 
side  immediately  after.    He  had  advanced  upon  it  with 
such  rapidity,  as  to  bayonet  the  men  stationed  at  it  be- 
fore they  had  time  to  escape,  and  cut  down,  with  his 
own  hand,  an  artiHerist  who  was  applying  a  match  to  the 
piece.    In  the  same  charge  lieutenant  Bigelow  was  kill- 
^A  .  an<i  onntfiin  ftiirliBBlr..  and  ennkriiR  Jones  and  Tho- 
Bias,  and  lieutenant  Fisk  of  the  nineteenth,  and  ensiga 
CampiJf  the  second  rifle,  bot*^  attached  to  the  twenty-first, 
were  wounded. 


293 

The  advance  of  ♦he  twenty-third  upon  the  British  iu 
fiantry  supportiiig  the  cnnnon,  being  as  prompt  as  that  of 
the  twenty-first,  both  regiments- pierced  the  cnemy*H  linei 
at  the  same  irstant.  Major  Brooke,  in  obedience  to  the 
order  of  general  Ripley,  led  his  battalion,  under  the  eye 
,  of  his  commander,  into  the  very  ranks  of  the  enemy,  and 
putting  them  to  a  hasty  and  disorderly  retreat,  marched 
up  to  the  relief  of  colonel  Miller,  who,  though  he  had 
formed  his  line  in  the  rear  of  the  captured  battery,  had 
not  yet  driven  the  enemy  below  the  eminence,  and  was 
at  this  moment  closely  pressed,  almost  at  its  summit.  By 
the  junction  of  these  two  regiments,  however,  and  the 
bringing  into  line  of  the  first,  the  fate  of  this  assault  was 
determined,  the  British  infantry  and  artillerists  retired 
beyond  the  reach  of  musquetry,  and  their  own  cannon 
were  turned  against  them. 

The  features  of  the  action  now  began  to  assume  a  new 
character.  The  heights  from  which  the  enemy  had  been 
thus  gallantly  dislodged,  being  a  very  commanding  po- 
sition, the  mtuntenance  of  them,  would  alone  determine 
the  issue  of  the  conflict,  and  general  Ripley  immediately 
formed  his  line  for  the  protection  of  the  newly  acquired 
battery,  and  prepared  to  receive  the  assaults,  which  he 
rightly  conjectured  would  be  made  for  its  recovery. 
When  the  capture  of  general  Riall  was  announced^ 
before  the  dislodgment  of  the  British  from  the  eminence, 
the  elation  of  the  first  brigade  was  manifested  by  three 
loud  huzzas,  which  brought  a  shell  from  the  enemy,  that 
fell  in  major  Hindman's  corps,  and  exploded  a  casscn 
of  ammunition  belonging  to  the  company  of  the  brave 
and  lamented  captain  Ritchie,  who,  being  mortally 
wounded  in  the  «ourse  of  the  engagement,  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  British.  Major  Hindman  was  now  directed 
to  bring  up  his  corps,  including  Towson's  detachment, 
and  post  himself,  with  his  own  and  the  captured  cannopf 
on  the  righw  of  general  Ripley's  brigade,  and  between  it, 
and  the  twenty-fifth ;  on  the  left  of  the  second  brigade, 
general  Porter's  volunteers  were  then  ranged. 

The  line  be?*ig  thus  formed,  at  the  expiration  of  a 
short  interval,  lieutenant  general  Drummond,  incensed 
beyond  measure  at  the  capture  of  his  artillery,  resolved 
on  Fegaliiiug  il,  and  being  strongly  reinforced,  advanced 
upon  general  Ripley,  with  a  heavy  and  extended  line, 


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2d4 

outflanking  him  en  both  extremes.  In  anticipaltou 
of  his  approach,  which  could  only  be  discovered  by  the 
sound  attending  it,  general  Ripley,  had  directed  his 
troops,  to  reserve  their  fire,  until  they  had  received  that 
of  the  assailants,  and,  if  necessary,  to  feel  the  bayonets, 
before  they  should  discharge  their  pieces,  with  the  dou- 
ble view  of  drawing  the  advancing  line,  within  close  strik- 
ing distance,  and  of  making  his  own  fire  more  deadly 
and  elfective,  by  giving  it  a  direction  by  the  flashes  6f 
the  enemy's  musquetry. 

On  the  other  hand,  lieutenant  general  Drummond, 
thus  resolutely  determined  on  the  recovery  of  his  can- 
non, ;;avea  peremptory  order  to  all  bis  platoon  officers, 
to  advance  steadily,  and  without  regard  to  the  fire  of  the 
American  jinc ;  and  after  attaining  a  given  distance,  to 
make  a  prompt  and  vigorous  charge,  and,  if  possible,  to 
fall  directly  upon  the  cannon.   His  whole  division,  there- 
fore, marched  at  a  quick  step,  until  it  came  within  twenty 
pac^s  of  the  summit  of  the  height,  when  the  several  regi- 
ments received  orders  to  pour  in  a  rapid  fire,  upon  the 
American  line,  and  to  follow  it  with  an  immediate  ap- 
peal to  the  bayonet.     This  fire  was  no  sooner  delivered, 
than  the  second  brigade,  the  volunteers,  and  lieutenant 
colonel  Jesup's    regiment,   instantaneously  returned  it, 
nnd  threw  the  enemy's  line  into  a  momentary  confusion. 
But,  being  immediately  rallied,  it  returned  to  a  conflict 
more  tremendous,  than  any  which  had  been  witnessed  in 
that  day's  battle.     Upwards  of  twenty  minutes,  one 
blaze  of  fire  succeeded  another,  in  each  line ;  sections, 
companies,  and  regiments,  mutually  fell  back,  and  were 
successively  rallied,  and  again  brought  into  action;  but 
at  length  the  British  ^ne   was    forced  back,  and  the 
doubtful  contest  terminated  in  their  retiring  to  the  lower 
extremity  of  the  hill. 

It  was  not  to  be  supposed,  however,  that  the  enemy, 
the  greatest  proportion  of  whose  troops  had  been  accus- 
iomed  to  desperate  feats  of  valour,  and  had  encountered 
the  most  experienced  battalions  of  the  European  armies, 
")iad  yet  consented  to  yield,  to  an  army  but  lately  made 
up  of  the  rawest  materials,  what  in  tliat  event  would  be 
considered  the  trophies  of  a  victory.     Measures  were, 

•tonnffWncrlwT    inaia-.-iHv  at\rtt\ioti  hi/    n-onopfil  Tiinlpv.  fo    TO.' 

move  his  wounded,  and  restore  his  line  to  proper  order- 


¥  ;^ 


295 

Whilst  this  si>lenilid  repulse  was  given  to  the  assault 
of  the  en  iny^  general  Scott's  con8oIi<jated  battalion, 
which  hau  been  until  this  time  held  in  reservs,  was 
drawn  up  in  the  rear  of  the  second  brigade,  under  lieute- 
nant colonel  Leavenworth,  colonel  Brady's  wounds  hav- 
ing rendered  him  unfit  for  active  duty.  General  Scott's 
brigade  m^or,  lieutenant  Smith,  and  his  aid,  captain 
Worth,  being,  at  this  time,  both  severely  wounded,  he 
selected  an  aid  from  the  9th  regiment,  and  forming  the 
battalion  into  column,  marched  it  across  the  field,  and 
displayed  it  on  a  narrow  lane,  parallel  with,  and  to  the 
south  of,  Lundy's  l;ine.  From  this  position  he  despatched 
lieutenant  colonel  Leavenworth  to  seek  the  commander 
iu  chief,  and  to  receive  his  orders  as  to  the  disposition  of 
the  battalion.  General  Brown  being  conducted  to  its 
position  by  the  colonel,  a  short  conversation  followed 
between  the  two  generals,  the  result  of  which  was  the 
immediate  movement  of  general  Scott's  command  into 
Lundy's  lane,  where  it  was  to  be  formed,  with  its  right 
towards  the  Niagara  road,  and  its  left  in  the  rear  of  the 
captured  battery. 

Having  given  a  new  arrangement  to  his  troops,  gene- 
ral Drummond,  after  a  lapse  of  half  an  hour,  was  disco- 
vered to  be  advancing  to  a  second  cMirgc.     He  was  re- 
ceived with  undiminished  firmness,  and  general  Ripley's 
order  to  retain  the  fire  being  repeated,  the  whole  British 
line  discharged  its  musquetry  from  the  same  point  at 
which  it  had  previously  paused.     The  light,  which  was 
thence  emitted,  enabled  the  Amerfcans  to  fire  with  the 
utmost  precision,  and  to  check  the  enemy's  nearer  ad- 
vance.   The  repeated  discharges  of  major  Hindraan's  ar- 
tillery, which  was  served  with  uncommon  skill  and  re- 
gularity, were  severely  felt  by  the  advancing  line,  and 
the  officers  attached  to  it  behaved  with  coolness  and 
gallantry.    The  situation  on  the  t6p  of  the  eminence, 
gave  many  and  decided  advantages  to  general  Ripley's 
command;  scarcely  a  shot  was  fired,  which  failed  of  hit- 
ting its  object,  whilst  the  fire  of  the  British,  being  more 
elevated,  generally  went  over  the  heads  of  the  Ameri- 
cans.   General  Ripley  being  of  a  tall  stature,  and  mount- ' 
cd  within  eight  paces  of  the  rear  of  his  line,  was  by  this 

Bis  horse  wa^i  wounded  under  him,  and  his  hat  twice- 

Cc2 


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perforated  in  the  course  of  the  second  attack.  After  the 
first  discharge,  in  this  effort  to  regain  his  battery,  the 
British  general  determining  to  break  the  centre  of  the 
American  line,  composed  of  the  twenty-first  regiment, 
and  detachments  of  the  seventeenth  and  nineteenth,  le- 
trelled  his  fire  at  that  point.  With  the  exception  of  afevr 
platoons,  the  twenty-first,  however,  remained  unsha- 
ken. These  being  immediately  rallied  by  general  Rip- 
ley ^  the  contest  continued  with  great  vivacity,  until  the 
enemy  finding  he  could  not  make  another  impression  on 
the  American;  and  feeling  his  own  line  recoiling,  again 
fell  back  to  the  bottom  of  the  eminence. 

Immediately  after  ihe  commencement  of  this  second 
contest,  the  remains  of  the  first  brigade  were  also  brought 
into  action.  At  tha  time  of  the  second  discharge,  the 
two  lines  being  nearly  parallel,  and  enveloped  in  a  blaze  ^ 
of  fire,  general  Scott,  who  had  approached  the  top  of 
the  eminence  to  ascertain  their  situation,  now  rode  has- 
tily l^ack  to  his  br;gade,  <!emanded,  in  an  animated 
voice,  of  colonel  Leavenworth,  "  are  these  troops  pre- 
pared for  the  charge  ?^'  and,  without  waiting  for  a  reply, 
ordered  them  into  close  column,  their  left  in  front,  and  to 
move  forward  and  charge.  This  order  being  executed  al- 
most as  soon  as  it  was  given,  the  general  led  up  the  co- 
lumn, aiiu  passing  between  the  pieces  of  artillery,  ad- 
vanced iipon  the  enemy's  left. 

The  gallantry  of  general  Scott's  troops,  however, 
could  not  prevail  against  a  double  line  oi  infantry,  by 
which  the  British  flank  was  supported,  and  this  charge 
being  met  with  unexpected  firmness,  the  consolidati^d 
battalion  fell  bac'i,  and  passed  to  the  extreme  left  of 
general  Porter's  volunteers,  who  were  all  VAs  time  warm- 
ly engaged  with  the  enemy.  Lieutenant  colonel  Leaven- 
worth was  then  ordei-ed  to  re-form  the  column,  aiiJ  to 
change  its  front,  whic!-),  being  done,  general  Scott  led  it 
to  a  sev  ond  charge,  and  made  a  resolute  attempt  to  turn 
^  the  ene  ny's  right.  This  flank  being  also  protected  by  a , 
double  line,  the  attempt  was  not  more  successful  than 
the  former;  and  the  battalion  again  falling  back,  was  or- 
dered to  form  on  the  left  of  the  line,  whilst  the  general 
passed  to  the  right,  and  joining  lieutenant  colonel  Jes- 
lip's  regiment,  had  his  shoulder  fractured  by  a  musket 
baU)  and  almost  at  the  same  uistaut^  received  a  severe 


297 

wound  in  the  aide,  which  comp.'lled  liim  to  leave  the 
field ;  not,  however,  without  having  first  returned  to 
heutenant  colonel  LeavenworJh,  whom  he  ord»»red  to 
move  to  the  right  of  the  line  and  consolidate  his  battalion 
with  the  twenty-fifth  regiment,  the  comniander  of  which 
was  also  severely  wounded.  General  8vMt  had  hitherto 
escaped  the  fire  of  the  enemy  witf  singular  good  fortune 
lie  had  been  constantly,  tP.d,  probably,  too  often,  in  the 
most  exposed  situations :  he  led  his  troops  in  person  to 
the  separate  charges,  and  never  shrunk  from  any  |>art  of 
the  engagement,  however  desperate  or  dangerous.  He 
was  now  conveyed  to  the  encampment  at  Chippewa, 
whence  he  was  soon  after  removed  to  the  American 
Bide  of. (he  Niagara. 

Having  thus  failed  in  two  vigorous  and  determined  ef- 
orta  for  the  recovery  of  rAa  pieces,  the  British  general 
hegar.  to  despair  of  any  better  success  from  a  third  ;  but 
the  fortunate  arrival  of  another  reinfQ.cing  party  from 
Fort  George,  now  protected  by  four  ot  the  BriUsh  fleet 
reanimating  his  troops,  he  put  them  in  readiness  for  ano- 
ther charge,  by  forming  a  fresh  lii:e  with  the  new  detach- 
ment.    Upwards  of  half  an  hour  having  elapsed  inte  his 
second  repulse,  it  was  considered  very  doubtfui  by  the 
Americans,  whether  their  ability  to  maintain  their  ground 
woald  be  put  to  another  trial.     Excessively  fatigued 
by  the  violence  of  the  last  struggle,  their  canteens  be- 
ing  exuausted,  and  no  water,  (an  article  now  almos<  as 
indispensable  as  ammunition,)  at  hand  to  replenish  them 
It  would  be  wondered  at,  if  they  had  either  courted  or 
desired  a  renewal  of  the  contest      But  they  were  deter- 
mined to  lose  no  part  of  the  reputation,  which  they  had 
that  night  acquired,  and  if  the  cannon  were  again  to  be 
defended,  they  would  be   defended  with  equal  vigour 
and  animation.     Their  doubts  were  very  soon  removed, 
»y  the  approach,  in  a  more  extended  line,  of  the  whole 
Dody  of  the  British  troops,  who,  independent: '  of  their 
reinforcements,  had  the  advantage  of  being  ampjy  re- 
ffeshed,  from  the  plentiful  resources  at  Queenstown  and 
ot.  David's. 

The  advance  of  the  enemy  was  no  sooner  made 
Known  to  ^general  Ripley's  line,  than  the  ardour  of  all 
flis  men  instnntlv  vAviv^fi    -    •  •     • 


t 


la 


M 


■\fM  tM£\WV^^\*ra0^\^^^^ 


.  _       At^  . 


rT3T--'vc^    uuu     £CU«t;UiUCi'iiig     IjiC     Of- 


298 


;  II 


'%■ 


I    .1 


d«r  of  their  gallant  commander,  to  refuse  their  lire,  they 
prepared  to  receive  that  of  the  approaching  line. 

The  Brilinh  delivered  their  fire  nearly  within  the  same 
distance  as  before,  but  they  did  not  fall  back  from  the 
fire  of  the   Americans  with   the  same    precipitation.-^ 
Their  fresh  line    steadily    advanced,  and   repeated  its 
discharge  J  the  Americans  remained  firm,  and  returned 
it  •  and  an  obstinate  and  tremendous  conflict  followed. 
The  2l8t  again  manifested  its  determined  character,  and 
under  the  direction  of  colonel  Miller,  dealt  out  a  destruc- 
tive fire  upon  its  assailants.     The  right  and  left  repeat- 
edly fell  back,  but  were  as  often  rallied,  and  brought 
into  the  line,  to  preserve  which,  the  exertions  of  the  gene- 
ral and  colonels  Miller,  Nicholas,  an<l  Jesup,  and  all  the 
other  officers,  were  constantly  required.     On  the  other 
hand    the  fresh  troo^i  of  the  British,  were  as  unshaken 
as  their  antagonists  the  21st  j  but  the  regiments  and  sec- 
tions  which  hail  been  before  repulsed,  recoiled  again, 
and  were  repeatedly  urged  forward  by    their  oflicers. 
At  length,  the  two  lines,  were  on  the  very  summit  of  the 
hill    each  at  the  point  of  the  bayonets  of  the  other,  and 
both  appealing  to  that  weapon,  with  unusual  force  and 
rapidity      Such  was  the  obstinacy  of  the  contending 
nartlcs    that  many  battalions  on  both  sides  were  forced 
back  by  the  vigour  of  the  combat,  and  the  British  and 
American  lines  became  mingled  with  e?  ,h  other.    At 
that  part  of  the  height  on  which  the  cannon  were  sta- 
tioned, the  batUe  was    most  desperate.     The   enemy 
having  forced  himself  into   the  very   midst  of  major 
Hindman's  artillery,  two  pieces  of  which  the  officers  of 
that  corps  were  compelled  to  spike,   he  was  warmly 
eno-aged  across  the  carriages  and  guns  ;  and  the  slaugh- 
ter" which   took  place  upon  the  eminence,  sufficiently 
evinced  his  determination  to  recapture,  and  the  resolu- 
tion of  the  American  artillerists  to  retain  the  trophies 
which  the  gallantry  of  the  infantry  had  won. 

The  close  and  personal  contests  now  prevaihng  from 
one  end  of  the  Une  to  the  other,  produced  a  degree  of 
confusion,  which  the  coolness  and  energy  of  the  general 
could  scarcely  suppress.  The  broken  sections  were  at 
length,  hower^p,  restored  to  Uie  line,  and,  having  re- 
_-tr_,i  *!»«:«  o^^orAi  nnsitions.  comoelled  th«  enemy  » 
right  and  left  wings  ta  faU  bacli.  The  centre  of  bis  line, 


299 

iiiiiiating  the  example  of  the  flanks,  also  gave  way,  and 
the  aa^sault  upon  the  artillery,  after  a  drcadfol  conflict, 
being  at  (his  moment  repulsed,  the  whole  British  line 
fled  precipitately  a  third  time.  The  personal  and  most 
active  exertiong  of  their  principal  officers,  could  not  re- 
tard the  flight  of  the  troopfl,  and  they  retreated  beyond 
the  reach^  either  of  musquctry  or  cannon.  General 
Drummond,  seeing  that  the  repulse  of  this  last,  and  most 
(letertnincd  eflbrt,  had  wearied  and  depressed  his  line, 
and  feeling  assured  that  it  would  be  difficult  to  lead 
them  onno  another  attempt,  which  too,  in  all  probabi- 
lity, would  be  followed  by  a  more  disastrous  diseom- 
fiture,  consented  to  relinquish  his  cannon,  and  retired 
beyond  the  borders  of  the  field,  over  which  were  strew- 
ed the  dead  and  wounded  of  both  armies. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  last  charge,  major  ge- 
neral Brown,  while  attending  to  the  formation  of  lieute- 
nant colonel  Leavenworth's  battalion,  was  severely 
wounded  by  a  musket  ball,  in  the  right  thigh.  A  little 
while  after,  he  received  a  second  wound  on  the  left 
side,^  and  being  compelled  to  quit  the  field,  retired  also 
to  the  Chippewa,  and  devolved  the  command  on  gene- 
ral Ripley.  Though  the  British  had  been  forced  to 
withdraw  from  the  action,  that  officer,  not  knowing 
whether  they  had  yet  yielded  the  victory,  or  whether 
they  contemplated  the  adoption  of  measures,  by  which 
still  to  retrieve  the  honour  of  their  arms,  re-formed  his 
line,  and  held  it  in  readiness  to  receive  an  attack,  in 
whatever  manner  it  should  be  made.  Convinced  of  the 
necessity  of  the  removal  of  the  captured  cannon,  and  of 
the  immense  loss  which  would  thence  be  prevented,  ge- 
neral Ripley  had  frequently  despatched  his  aid  to  gene- 
ral Brown,  for  the  means  of  transporting  them  from  the 
field.  No  means  were,  however,  at  hand,  most  of  the 
horses  being  already  killed,  and  the  remainder  necessary 
to  draw  off  the  American  pieces.  General  Ripley,  there- 
fore, at  the  close  of  the  engagement^  ordered  general 
Porter  to  detach  a  party  of  his  volunteers,  to  assist  in 
their  removal. — But  the  British  guns  being  utflimbered, 
and  in  a  dismantled  condition,  it  was  found  to  be  im- 
practicable to  draw  them  away,  but  by  means  of  drag- 
ropes;  none  of  which  were  at  that  time  on  the  ground. 
Reluctant  as  were  all  the  troops  of  the  line  to  abandott 


r 


V 


Pi 


■i 


%  Ir. 


doe 


f    , 


1 


II 


I 


the  trophies,  which  had  been  gained  by  the  resistless  va 
lour  of  the  aeoond  brigade,  to  diilicultieB,  now  found  to 
be  insurmountable,  they  were  obliged  to  yield. 

It  was  at  this  moment,  while  in  conversation  with 
lieutenant  colonel  Leavenworth,  whone  battalion,  was 
then  c^mdensed  with  the  25th  regiment,  and  commanded 
by  lieutenant  colonel  Jesup,  and  who  had  been  sent,  by 
that  officer,  for  directions  as  to  the  dispositions  of  the  first 
brigade,  that  general  Ripley  received  an  order  from  ge- 
neral Brown  to  collect  the  dead  and  wounded,  and  to 
return  with  the  army  to  its  encampment  on  me  Chip* 
pewa.  In  obedience  to  the  wishes  of  the  commander  in 
chief,  this  order  was  put  into  immediate  execution. — 
Major  Hindman,  with  the  artillery,  was  already  on  his 
march,  and  the  remnants  of  the  regular  and  volunteer 
Jbrigodes,  having  first  rolled  the  smaller  pieces  of  the 
enemy's  cannon  down  the  precipice,  returned  to  the 
camp  in  good  order,  and  without  molestation,  about  one 
o'clock  on.  the  morning  of  the  26th. 

tn  this  instance,  as  at  the  defence  of  Sackett^s  Har- 
bor, where  it  has  been  seen,  the  British  troops  were  op- 
posed and  repulsed,  by  the  same  commander,  the  enemy 
olaimed  another  decisive  and  more  brilliuit  victory.  The 
governor  general,  sir  George  Prevost,  and  the  command* 
ing  gener^,  Drummond,  complimented  the  regulars  and 
militia  engaged  in  it,  "for  their  exemplary  steadiness,  gal- 
"  lantry  and  discipline^  in  repulsing  all  the  efforts  of  a 
"  nwnerous  and  determined  enemy,  to  carry  the  position 
"  qf  Lundy*s  Lane,^*  and  announced,  "  that  their  exer- 
"  tions  had  been  cronmed  with  succesSp  by  the  complete 
"  dejkat  of  the  enemy  *^ 

if,  upon  ground  of  their  own  selection,  and  with  a 
body  of  1637  men,  to  assail  an  advanced  party  of 
an  enemy  of  only  750,  and  after  an  hour's  obstinate 
conflict,  to  repose  on  their  arms,  until  they  could 
be  relieved,  by  reinforcements ; — if,  after  a  mutual 
reinforcement,  their  enemy's  numbers  should  amount 
to  two  brigades  of  U.IO  infantry,  a  detachment  of 
367  artillery,  and  a  corps  of  600  volunteers,  making 
in  all  2417  men,  and  their  own  force  should  consist,  ac- 
cording with  a  report  of  one  of  their  officers,  of  3460  regu- 
lars, 1200  incorporated  militia,  and  480  Indians,  making, 
in  all,  6130  men,  and,  with  this  disparity  of  strength, 
they  should  be  driven  from  the  eminence  on  which  they 


^1 


h«d  advanUk^eously  posted  themselves,  with  ilie  Iob-*, 
ioot  of  all  their  cannoo;~if,  after  three  desperate  assaults, 
any  one  of  them  upwards  of  twenty  minutes  induration, 
for  the  recovery  of  their  battery,  and  with  the  ability  to 
interpose  fresh  lines,  to  be  successively  repulsed,  with 
immense  losses,  and,   after  a  contest  of  six   hours, 
(from  half  past  five  in  the  evening,  until  twelve  at  night) 
between  some  of  the  best  disciplined  troops  of  Europe, 
and  newly  raised  recruits,  the  former  eventually  to  with- 
draw from  the  field,  and  leave  their  enemy  in  possession, 
not  only  of  their  cannon,  but  of  one  of  their  generals,  the 
second  in  command,  the  first  having  narrowly  escaped 
capture; — If  this  be  to  effect  the  complete  defeat  and  over- 
throw of  theiradver8ary,the  British  troops  cerlainly  achiev- 
ed a  brilliant  and  decisive  victory;  the  governor  general  of 
the  Canadas,  was  in  the  perfoimance  of  his  duty,  when 
he  complimented  them,  for  their  steadiness;  and  the 
prince  regent  of   England,  betrayed   no  precipitation, 
when   he  announced  it    to   the  world,  and  permitted 
"  Niagara"  to  be  worn  upon  the  cops  of  one  of  the 
regiments. 

The  captured  artillery,  it  is  true,  was  re-obtained  by 
its  original  owners ;  hut,  its  return  to  their  possession, 
was  neither  the  result  of  any  desperate  effort  to  regain 
it,  nor  the  evidence  of  a  victory.    They  had  entered  in- 
to the  engagement,  under  circumstances  highly  advan- 
tageous.    Their  force  could  be  continually  augmented 
either  by  requisitions  for  militia,  or  by  the  concentration 
of  their  regulars  from  the  neighbouring  i>osts,  and  was 
already  double  the  strength  of  the  Americans.    They 
were  surrounded  by  deposits  of  ammunition,  and,  being 
in  the  vicinity  of  their  garrisons,  could,  at  any  time,  ad- 
minister to  the  want^  of  their  army.     Not  so  the  Ame- 
ricans.    They  were  at  a  distance  from  any  resources, 
whence  they  might  derive,  either  supplies  or  reinforce- 
ments.   Their  numbers  had  been  lessened  by  repeated 
skirmishes  with  the  enemy,  and  by  the  casualties,  com- 
monly incident  to  armies.    With  the  odds  against  them, 
ttiey  had  been  drawn  into  this  tremendous  struggle,  the 
long  duration  of  which  so  much  exhausted  their  troops^ 
Buu  reduced  their  numbera,  that  aiter  becomicg  ihe  ejk- 
tire  jaastere  of  the  field,  and  keeping  possession  of  it 
Deadyan  houri  they  retired,  with  a  force,  not  anfiount- 


U  '■: 


>■  i 


If'--  '  , 

!■  ■  i 


302 

iug  to  the  complement  of  two  regiments.  Iii  this  reilu- 
ceU  state,  arid  without  the  means  of  removing  the  cap- 
tured property,  they  left  the  enemy's  cannon,  at  the  foot 
of  the  eminence,  on  which  they  had  proudly  and  gal- 
lantly wrested  it  from  him.  Had  their  meuds  been  less 
limited,  they  might  have  embellished  the  conquest  not 
only  with  these,  but  other  splendid  trophies,  put  all  dis- 
putation forever  at  rest,  and  left  no  alternative  to  the 
enemy,  but  an  acknowledgment  of  his  defeat  and  dis* 
grace.  In  a  battle,  desperate  and  tremendous  ad  this  is 
represented  to  have  been,  the  losses  on  each  side  must 
necessarily  have  been  immense.  In  killed,  wounded, 
prisoners,  and  missing,  the  total  of  both  armies,  amount- 
ed (o  1729,  the  proportion  being  nearly  equal,  and  the 
killed  and  wounded  alone  1384.  On  the  side  of  the  en- 
emy, one  assistant  adjutant  general,  one  captain,  three 
subalterns,  and  seventy-nine  non-commissioned  officers 
and  privates  were  killed ;  lieutenant  general  Drummond, 
major  general  Riall,  and  three  lieutenant  colonels,  two 
majors,  eight  captains,  twenty-two  subalterns,  and  five 
hundred  and  twenty-two  non-commissioned  officers  and 
privates  were  wounded  ;  and  the  prisoners  and  missiiig 
amounted  to,  one  aid  de  camp  (captain  Loring,)  five 
other  captains,  nine  subalterns,  and  two  hundred  and 
twenty  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates ;  making 

in  all  878  men. 

Many  officers  of  distinction  fell  also  on  the  other  side, 
and  the  total  loss  was  little  less  than  that  of  the  Brillsh. 
— It  consisted  of  one  major,  five  captains,  five  subalterns, 
and  one  hundred  and  fifty-nine  non-commissioned  offi- 
cers and  privates,  killed ;  major  general  Brown,  briga- 
diers general  Scott  and  Porter,  two  aids  de  camp,  one 
brigade  major,  one  colonel,  four  lieutenant  colonels,  one 
major,  seven  captains,  thirty-seven  subalterns,  and  five 
hundred  and  fifteen  non-commissioned  officers  and  pri- 
vates, wounded  ;  and  one  brigade  major,  one  captain, 
six  subalterns,  and  one  hundred  and  two  non-commis- 
sioned officers  and  privates,  missing ;  making  a  grasid 
total  of  861,  and  a  difference  of  27  only,  between  the 
contending  parties. 

Ui  me  iQuiviuuai  gunamr^'  ui  luc  uus^csr,  i-.vm  »••:' 
highest  in  rank,  down  to  the  youngest  subaltern,  the 
most  positive  evidence  is  furnished,  by  the  long  list  of 


i» 


ao3 

klMed  and  wounded.  Every  man  upon  llie  field,  Uelug 
engaged  in  the  battle,  the  bravery  of  no  one  officer,  was 
distinguishable  from  another,  except  in  those  instances 
when,  by  the  change  of  the  enemy's  movements,  detach- 
ments were  tlirown  into  situations,  from  which  they  could 
be  extricated  only  by  the  most  daring  intrepidity. 

When  the  American  forces,  returned  to  their  encamp- 
ment at  the  Chippewa,  major  general  Brown  directed  ge- 
neral Ripley. to  refresh  the  troops,  and  proceed  with 
them,  early  in  the  morning,  to  the  battle  ground-^with  r 
view,  no  doubtyf^to  reconnoitre  the  enemy,  and  if  he 
loitered  near  the  field,  in    a  position  from  ,which  he 
might  be  advantageously  driven,  to  engage  him;  but 
certainly  not  to  assail  a  superior  force,  under  circum- 
stances, to  the    last  degree  unfavourable,  and    which 
would  inevitably  result  in  the  total  destruction  of  the 
American  army.    The  troops,  now  amounting  to  about 
1560,  being  put  in  motion,  in  obedience  to  this  order,  gen. 
Ripley  despatched  reconnoitring  parties,  in  advance  of  his 
main  body.    From  these  he  learned,  that  the  enemy  was 
po«!ted  on  the  field  in  advance  of  his  former  position  on 
the  eminence  ;  reinforced,  as  had  been  reported  by  the 
prisoners ;  his  line  drawn  up  between  the  river  and  a  thick 
wood;  his  flanks  resting  on  each;  and  his  cannon  sta- 
tioned so  as  to  enfilade  the  road.     Under  such  circum-' 
slances,  It  would  have  been  highly  injudicious  to  have 
attacked  him;  and,  where  no  advantages  are  to  be  gained, 
the  useless  effusion  of  human  blood,  is  a  stain  upon  the 
ability  and  valour,  as  well  as  upon  the  judgment  and  hu- 
manity of  the  soldier.     General  Ripley  seeing  the  im- 
possibility of  regaining  the  field  of  battle,  and  the  proba- 
bility of  his  own  flanks  being  compelled  to  fall  back,  by 
the  immense  superiority  of  the  enemy's  numbers,  turned 
his  army  towards  the  Chippewa ;  whence,  having  first  de- 
stroyed the  bridges  over  that  stream,  as  well  as  the 
platforms,  which  he  had  previously  constructed  at  the 
enemy's  old  works  there,  he  pursued  his  retreat  towards 
the  Fort  Erie,  and  reached  it  in  good  order  on  the  follow- 
ing day.    There  h&  determined  upon  making  a  decided . 
stand  against  the  British  troops,  whose  regular  and  gra- 
dual  approaches  he  anticipated. 

Dd 


?T  '■$. 


i; 


CHAPTER  XIXv 


f  ^' 


ft'  ff  1 


! 


I 


Jhfinces  of  FoH  Erie  cxlendid^Invested  by  the  enemy— 
The  BrUiah  land  below  Buffaloe^-^nd  are  repulsed  at 
Cmejockeda creek^^ffairs of ouiposis^ Death  ofMa^ 
jw  Morgart'-Jissaidt  upm  Fort  Erk—The  besiegers 
driven  bacfc  to  their  wwks— Loss  of  the  echooners  So- 
mers  and  Ohio^Renewal  of  the  cannonade  and  bom- 
oardment, 

THIS  retrograde  movement  of  the  American  army 
fi>as  no  sooner  effected,  and  the  situations  of  the  different 
regiments  allotted  in  the  encampment,  than  the  command- 
ing  general  (Ripley)  immediately  directed  the  lines  of  de- 
fence to  be  extended,  the  fort  enlarged,  and  new  batteries 
erected.    With  the  aid  of  the  engineers,  lieutenants  colo- 
nel W  ood  and  M'Ree,  defences  of  abattls,  traverses,  in- 
trenchments,  and  redoubts,  were  instantly  commenced, 
und  from  the  27th  July,  until  the  2d  or  3d  of  August,  he 
troops  were  employed  night  and  day,   in  placmg  the 
works  in  a  state  to  sustain  Uie  expected  and  almost  cer- 
tain  attack.     Had  lieutenant  general  Drummond  fol- 
lowed up,  the  victory  which  he    claimed,  he  would 
have  found  the  shattered   American  brigades,  scaroe- 
ly  in    any    kind  of  condition    to     resist    him.— But 
the  cautious  enemy  di*  not  choose  to  pursue  a  retreat- 
Lir  army,  whuae  troops  had  given  him  such  signal  prools 
of  their  intrepidity,  until  his  own  numbers  were  agam  en- 
larged.   On  the  29th  of  July,  being  reinforced  by  the 
right  and  left  wings  of  De  Watteville's  troops,  1,100 
^''strong,  he  pushed  forward  to  the  investment  of  the  iort. 
%iR  reinforcement  extended  his  numbers  to  6,352  men, 
and  with  this  formidable  superiority  of  strength,  he  ap- 
peared, on  the  3d  day  of  August,  before  a  fort,  which, 

a  wretched  stockade,  altogether  incapable  of  defence. 


♦ 


30^ 


Having  driven  in  the  American  picquets,  and  formed 
bis  encampment  two  miles  distant  from  the  garrison, 
he  gradually  approached  within  400  or  600  yards  of  the 
fort  (properly  so  called)  commenced  a  double  line  of  in'* 
trenchments,  erected  batteries  in  front  of  them  at  points 
from  which  he  could  throw  in  an  effectual  fire,  and  planted 
bis  cannon  so  as  to  enfilade  the  works.  S€eing  by  these  in- 
dications, that  the  British  commander  was  preparing  for 
a  regular  siege,  general  Ripley  availed  himself  of  the 
time  thus  lost  by  the  enemy  in  opening  his  trenches,  and 
carried  on  his  defensive  arrangements  with;  unceaeins; 
alacrity. 

The  approach  of  the  British  army  on  the  2d  of  August, 
being  discovered  by  major  Morgan,  of  the  1st  riflemen,^ 
to  whom,  with  a  detachment  of  240  men,  the  defence  of 
the  village  of  Buffaloe,  which  had  regained  its  former 
flourishing  condition,  was  entrusted,  he  suspected  the 
enemy  of  making  a  feint  upon  fort  Erie,  with  a  view  to  aa 
actual  attack  upon  Buffaloes    To  defeat  any  such  object,, 
he  immediately  took  a  position  on  the  upper  side  of  Gon<^ 
jockeda  creek,  cut  away  the  bridge  crossing   it,  and 
threw  up  a  breastwork  of  logs  in  the  course  of  the  night 
Though  the  British  general  had  no  intention  of  making 
a  feint,  major  Morgan's  precautions,  in  anticipation  of  an 
attack,  were  not  uselessly  adopted;  for,  early   in  the 
morning  of  the  3d,  a  detachment  of  the  enemy's  41  st  re- 
giment, under  lieutenant  colonel  Tucker,  crossed  the  Ni- 
agara, in  nine  boats,  and  landed  about  half  a  mile  below 
the  creeks  At  the  approach  of  day,  the  British  colonel  com- 
menced an  attack  upon  the  detachment,  and  sent  for- 
ward a  party  to  repair  the  bridge  under  cov€ir  of  his  fire. 
Major  Morgan  did  not  attempt  to  retard  the  enemy^s  ad- 
vances, until  he  was  within  rifle  distance,  when  he  opened 
a  fire,  which  proved  so  destructive,  that  lieutenant  co- 
lonel Tucker  fell  back  to  the  skirt  of  a  neighbouring  wood, 
and  kept  up  the  contest  at  long  shot.    In  the  mean 
time  general   Drummond   threw   over   reinforcements, 
and  the  British  detachment  now  amounted  to  nearly 
1,200  men.    With  this  force  colonel  Tuoker  attempted 
to  flank  his  antagonist,  by  despatching  his  left  wing  to 
ford  the  creek  above,  and  press  down  upon  the  opposite 
side  ;  this  movement  being  observed,  major  Morgan  sent 
forward  lieutenants  Hyan,  hiuith,  and  Armstrong^  to  op- 


,, , 


« 


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sn 


pose  the  fording  party.    Between  these  detachment's,  an 
encagement  to^k  place  a  Short  distance  above  the  breast- 
werk,  and  after  several  heavy  discharges,  the  enemy  ieH 
back  to  his  main  hotly,  with  considerable  loss.    Lieute- 
Bant  colonel  Tucker  finding  that  the  object  of  his  expedi- 
tion against  Buffaloe  (the  recapture  of  general  Riall,  and 
the  destruction  <yf  the  public  stores  there)  could  not  be 
achieved  without  an  immense  loss ;  and  knowmg  the  de- 
sire of  Keutenant  general  Drummond,  to  augment,  rather 
than  decrease,  the  force  destined  for  the  siege  of  the  fort, 
on  the  opposite  shore,  he  determined  on  abandoning  the 
«nterprize,  and  drawing  ofif  his  troops  to  fquaw  Isla.  d, 
returned  thence  to  the  Canadian  shore.    Witii  so  smalU 
f«rce  major  Morgan  could  not  attempt  to  annoy  him  in  his 
retreat.    He  is  supposed  to  have  lost  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  men,  many  dead  bodies  being  found  in  the  creek, 
and  upon  the  fielu,  and  six  prisoners  bemg  taken  by  the 
detachment.  In  this  gallant  little  affair,  captain  Hamilton, 
and  lieutenants  Wadsworth  and  M'Intosh,  of  the  riflemen, 
and  five  privates,  were  wounded,  and  two  privates  killed. 
By  the  7th  cf  August,  most  of  the  battenes  awd  tra- 
verses  about  fort  Erie  were  completed.    Upon  a  battery 
upwards  of  twenty  feet  high,  and  situated  at  Snake  Hill, 
the  southern  extremity  of  the  worke,   A^e  g»««  J^^J 
mounted,  and  the  command  given  ^njaj^^  Dawson,  of 
the  artillery.    Two  other  batteries  between  Towsons 
and  the  main  works,  one  mounting  three  g"nS' V"^,^''^'^' 
tainBiddle,  and  the  other  two  guns  under  lieut.  toih 
taine  were  also  completed.    The  northern  point  of  the 
forfhad  been  extended  to  the  water,  and  the  Douglas 
battery,  of  two  guns,  erected  on  the  bank.  The  dragoons, 
infant^,  riflemen,  and  volunteers,  were  encamped  be- 
IweenThe  western  ramparts  and  the  water   and  the  ar- 
tillery, under  major  Hindman,  stationed  withm  the  mam 

^Whilst  these  preparations  were  making,  several  partial 
cannonades  took  place,  without  any  known  effect  on  ei- 
ther side:  before  any  regular  firing  was  commenced 
brigadier  general  Gaines  arrived  at  the  fort^and  assumed 
rhe^comm^and  of  the  army.  Gene,  al  Ripley  then  return- 
ed to  the  command  of  his  brigade.   The  British  army  was 

.-_._... ♦o'l  K^iiinH  their  wnrks.  and  general 

Se^Smined  uTa^'e'rtain  their  strength,  and  endea 


* 


30f 


vop,  if  possible,  to^djraw  them  out.  On  the  6tb)  he  sent  th9 
Fifle  corps,  with  mtgor  Morgan,  who  had  been  previ- 
ously   transferred  from  the  American  shore,  to  pa89 
through  the  woods,  intervening  between  the  British  luie§ 
and  the  fort,  and  with  orders  to  amuse  the  enemy's  W^i 
troops,  until  his  columns  should  indicate  an  intention  tQ 
move ;  in  that  event,  major  Morgan  was  to  retire  gradu- 
ally, until  his  corps  should  have  fallen  back  upon  a  strong 
line  posted  in  the  plain  before  the  fort,  to  receive  th^ 
pursuing  British  troops.    The  object  of  this  movement 
failed — major  Morgan  having  encountefed   and  force4 
the  enemy's  light  troops  into  the  lines,  with  the  loss  of 
II  killed,  and  3  wounded,  and  made  prisoners  ;  and  not- 
wilhstanding  he  maintained  his  position  upwards  of  twQ 
huurs,  he  could  not  succeed  in  drawing  forth  the  main. 
body  of  the  British  troops.     He  therefore  returned  to  the 
fort,  after  losing  5  men  killed,  and  four  wounded.    By 
the  lOtb,  the  enemy's  line  was  protected   by  several 
block-houses,  and  a  long  wooden  breastwork.    To  exn 
amine  these  works,  captain  Birdsall,  of  the  4th  ."ifle  re- 
gimentr  was  sent  out  with  a  detachment  of  the  1st,  and 
his  own  company,  amounting  in  all  to  160  men.    After 
eome   skirmlsliing,.  he   succeeded  in  beaUng  in  two  of 
their  picquet  guards,  with  a  loss  on  their  side  of  ten  men 
killed;  and  one  killed,  and  three  wounded,  of  the  rifles 
men.     On  the  13lh,  a  workuig  party  of  the  enemy,  sup?* 
ported  by  a  guard  of  his  light  troops,  was  discovered  tQ 
be  opening  an  avenue,  for  the  construction  of  an  addi' 
tional  battery,  from  which,  to  annoy  the  rear  of  the  fort. 
Agreeably  to  the  orders  of  general  Gaines,  major  Morgans 
detached  about  100  men,  under  captain  Birdsall,  to  cut 
them  off:  that  officer  iuomiediately  assailed  the  guard,  and- 
after  a  smart  contest,  drove  in  both  it  and  the  working 
party.    In  the  event  of  the  enemy's  guard  being  rein- 
forced from  their  lines,  major  Morgan  had  been  also  or- 
dered to  hold  his  corps  in  readiness  to  support  captain 
Birdsall ;  and  as  a  large  body  of  the  v^nemy  was  obser\^> 
ed  to  be  approaching  upon  the  detachment,,  the  major 
promptly  moved  forward  and  engaged  it— A  warm  an^' 
spirited  conflict  followed,  in  which  several  men  wer^ 
killed  on  both  sides. — At  length,  however,  an  additional 
party  of  the  enemy  coming  up  to  the  aid  of  that  engage^,. 
B^liw  Morgau  uirdvrea  iu»  corps  to  £e|yr#^,iiB4  fl^-doaffi^ 

Dda 


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r  •  \ 

■KK. 

T '     '' .   '  '■ 

308 

ly  given  a  signal  to  that  effect,  when  he  receiTbd  a  musket 
ball  in  the  head,  which  forever  deprived  the  garrison  and 
his  country  of  hia  valuable  services.  The  corps  was  con- 
ducted  to  the  fort  by  captain  Birdsall,  and  the  body  of  its 
brave  and  lamented  commander  interred,  at  Bu£bloe, 
with  the  proper  honours  and  solemnities. 

During  these  repeated  skirmishes,  and  in  the  mtervals, 
between  the  sorties  of  detachments,  the  besiegers  and 
the  besieged  were  diligently  engaged  in  strengthening 
their  respective  works  ;  and  from  the  7th  untU  the  Uth 
of  the  month,  an  almost  unceasing  fire  was  kept  up  be- 
tween them,  with  various  effect.  On  the  night  of  the  Uth, 
the  emotion  and  tumult  ir  the  Britiali  encampmeiit,  gave 
certain  indications  of  an  intended  attack  upon  the  fort. 
General  Ripley,  always  on  the  alert;  was  among  the  first 
to  discover  these  indications,  and  having  first  ordered 
his  brigade,  stationed  to  the  left,  to  be  formed  within  the 
\m  of  defence,  he  despatched  his  aid,  lieutenant  Kirby,  to 
inform  general  Gaines,  of  his  conviction  of  the  enemy's 
contemplation     General  Gaines  was  himself  already  per- 
suaded, that  an  attempt  would  very  soon  be  made  to 
storm  the  garrison  j  and  lieutenant  Kirt^y  had  no  sooner 
delivered  his  message  at  head  quarters,  than  the  firing  of  a 
picquet,  commanded  by  lieutenant  Belknap,  of  the  infan- 
try  assured  him  that  the  moment  had  arrived.    Disposi- 
tions were  immediately  made  to  receive  the  assault,  and 
the  troops  of  tbe  garrison  anticipated  its  result  with  pride 

and  enthusiasm.  .   »     .  •  4   i  iu 

Lieutenant  general  Drummond,  havmg  appointed  the 
morning  of  the  15th,  for  a  vigorous  and  sudden  assault 
upon  the  fort,  had  previously  arranged  the  order  of  at- 
tack in  three  columns,  to  be  made  at  three  distinct 
points,  with  a  view  to  harrass  and  distract  the  garrison. 
His  right  column,  under  lieutenant  colonel  Fischer,  of  the 
Sth,  and  composed  of  parts  of  the  89th  and  100th  regi- 
ments; De  Watteviile's ;  detachments  fi-om  the  royal  ar- 
tillery with  rocketeers ;  and  a  picquet  of  cavaliy ;  was  to 
make  a  detour  of  three  miles  through  the  woods,,  and  to 
assault  the  southern  extremity  of  the  works.  His  centre 
column,  under  lieutenant  colonel  Drummond,  of  the 
104th,  and  composed  of  detachments  from  that,  and  the 

^-     .  • *  „«:_r_^4^>,T  .  nf  iUa  v/\ira1  orlilfArv*  SPAmett 

<«iai  regliiii^ni  w*  nuaimj  ,  ^j'  "»^  .-u-jms  --«- f  , 

an^4  iKwines  j  wm  to  b«  coaductea  by  ««?t^  Bwmey,  01 


309 


the  89lh,  to  the  attack  of  the  fort.  The  left  column  un- 
der colonel  Scot,  of  the  103d,  and  composed  of  that  re- 
giment, was  t6  be  led  by  captain  Elliot,  to  penetrate  the 
openings  in  the  works  between  the  fort  and  the  lake,  and 
to  scale  the  battery  upon  the  bank.  In  advance  of  lieu- 
tenant Fischer's  column,  the  British  picquets  on  Buck's 
Road,  together  with  the  Indians  of  the  encampment,  were 
to  be  pushed  on,  by  lieutenant  colonel  Nichols,  to  drive  in 
the  American  outposts.  The  royals  j  another  part  of  De 
Watteville's  regiment ;  the  Glengarians  ;  and  the  incorpo- 
rated militia,  under  lieutenant  colonel  Tucker,  were  to  be 
held  in  reserve  :  and  the  19th  light  dragoons,  stationed  in 
the  ravine,  in  the  rear  of  the  fort,  to  receive  and  convey 
the  prisoners  to  the  encampment ;  a  duty  which  it  did 
not  fall  to  their  lot  to  perform. 

General  Gaines,  not  knowing  at  what  points  the  arsault 
would  be  made,  prepared  to  receive  it  at  all  those,  which 
he  suspected  the  enemy  might  judge  to  be  assailable.  The 
command  of  the  fort  and  bastions  was  given  to  captain 
Alexander  Williams,  of  the  artillery,  which,  with  the 
battery  on  the  margin  of  the  lake^  under  lieutenant  Doug- 
lass, of  the  engineers,  and  thence  called  the  Douglass 
Battery,  formed  the  north-east  and  south-east  angle  of 
the  works.  In  a  blockhouse,  near  the  salient  bastion,  a 
detachment  of  the  19th  infantry,  was  stationed  under 
major  Trimble.  The  batteries  in  front,  under  captains 
Biddle  and  Fanning,  were  supported  by  general  Porter's 
volunteers,  and  the  corps  of  riflemen.  TfTie  whole  body 
of  artillery,  distributed  throughout  the  garrison,  was  com- 
manded by  major  Hindman.  The  first  brigade  of  infan- 
try, under  lieutenant  colonel  Aspinwall,  was  posted  on 
the  right ;  and  general  Ripley's  brigade  supported  Tow- 
son's  battery,  and  the  line  upon  the  left.  On  the  even- 
ing of  the  l4th,  a  few  hours  before  the  commencement 
of  the  assault,  and  whilst  these  dispositions  were  making 
to  repel  it,  one  of  the  enemy's  shells  fell  into  a  small  ma- 
gazine within  the  American  works,  and  produced  an  aw- 
ful explosion.  From  one  end  of  the  British  line  to  the 
other,  a  loud  shout  was  in  consequence  uttered,  but  as  no 
bad  effects  followed  the  explosion,  the  shout  was  repeat- 
ed in  the  fort,  and  in  the  midst  of  the  enemy's  exultation, 
cantAin  Williams  immediately  dischsu-o-ed  lUl  hlg  heav** 
pieces. 


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3ia 

At  half  an  hour  after  two,  on  the  morning  of  the  I6ilr, 
though  the  (1urknft«awa»  excessive,  the  approach  of  lieu- 
teiiaut  coloncf  Fischer,  with   the   ri-ht  column,  1,300 
iivfyn-r,  was  distinctly  heard  on  the  left  of  the  garrison. 
The  2d  brigade,  the  command  of  the  2l8t  regiment  hav- 
ing been  givert  to  lieu  eiianl  colonel  Wood,  of  the  engi- 
neers, and  the  artillery  of  Towson's  baltery  were  pn;- 
pared  to  receive  him.     Marching  promptly  forward,  lieu- 
tenant colonel  Fischer  assailed  the  battery  with  scaling 
ladders,  and  the  line  toward  the  lake  with  the  bayonet. 
He  was  pernitted  to  come  close  up  to  the  works,  when 
the  21st  and  23d  regiments,  and  the  artillery  upon  the 
battery,  opened  a  sudden  and  tremendous  fire,  which 
threw  his  whole  column  into  confusion,  rendered  hiin  ut- 
terly unable  to  suHiain  the  contest,  and  prevei  od  his 
making  an  impression  upon  the  works      Havmg  retired 
some  distance  to  re-organize  his  column,  he  immediate- 
\y  made  new  iirran^ements  for,  and  varied  the  shape  of 
his  liext  attack,  so  as  to  avoid  those  points,  from  which 
the  greatest  measure  of  destruction  had  been  dealt  out  to 
him      According  to  the  general  plan,  howeyer,  which  it 
was  incumbent  on  him  to  pursue,  it  was  necessary  that 
the  battery  should  be  carried ;  but,  wUh  the  means  to  ef- 
fect Uiis  object  he  was  badly  provi<^d.— With  scaling 
ladders  of  no  more  than  sixteen  feet  in  length,  he  couht 
not  possibly  throw  his  troops  upon  a  battery,  qf  about 
twenty-five  feet  high,  and  his  second  attempt,  equally  fu- 
rious as  the  first,  met  with  no  greater  success.     He  was 
again  repulsed,  and  with  considerable  loss.  Convinced ot 
his  inability  to  get  possession  of  the  battery,  and  feeling 
the  deadly  effects  of  the  incessant  showers  of  grape 
which  were  thrown  -ipon  him,  he  determined  in  his  next 
eflfort  to  pass  the  point  of  the  abattis,  by  wading  breast 
deep  into  the  lake,  to  which  the  works  were  open.  .In 
this  attempt  also  he  was  unsuccessful,  nearly  200  of  his 
men  being  either  killed  or  drowned,  and  the  remainder 
nrecipitately  falling  back.    Without  waiting  to  know  the 
result  of  the  attack,  upon  the  right  of  the  works,  which 
had  been  already  made  by  the  second  and  third  column, 
he  ordered  a  retreat  to  the  British  encampment,  which 
he  did  not  effect,  without  the  loss  of  many  of  his  rear 
guard,  taken  prisoners,  in  a  sally  made  from  the  WOWS 
by  Uie  order  of  generfid  Ripley. 


t^ 


an 


Th«  attack  from  the  centre  an  J  left  column,  the  firat 
of  700,  and  the  set  end  of  800  riien,  was  reserved  until  the 
contest  became  very  animated  between  lieutenant  colonel 
Piccher's  column  and  the  troops  upon  the  left.  From 
the  "ffne  of  defences,  between  the  Douglas  battery  and 
the  fort,  and  from  those  in  front  of  the  garrison,  lieu- 
tenant general  Drummond  suppAsed  reinforcements 
wo'jld  he  drawn  to  the  aid  of  the  southern  extremity  of  the 
works,  and  with  this  view  he  had  given  greater  strength 
to  his  right,  than  to  his  other  columns,  and  intended  to 
avail  himself  of  the  consequent  weakened  state,  of  the 
north  and  south  cast  angles  of  the  American  post.  The 
picquets  being  driven  in,  the  approach  of  lieutenant  co- 
lonel Drummond  was  heard  from  the  ravine,  and  colonel 
8cott's  column  at  the  same  time  advanced  along  the 
margin  of  the  water.  From  the  salient  bastion  of  the  fort, 
captain  Williams  immediately  opened  his  fire  upon  the 
centre  column,  whilst  the  approach  of  colonel  Scott  was 
attempted  to  be  checked  by  the  Douglas  battery,  and  cap- 
tains Boughton  and  Harding's  New  York  and  Pennsylva- 
nia volunteers,  on  its  right ;  the  9th  infantry,  under  cap- 
tain Foster,  on  its  left ;  and  a  six-pounder,  planted  at 
that  point,  under  the  management  of  colonel  M'Ree. 
At  fifty  yards  distance  from  the  line,  the  enemy's  left 
column  made  a  momentary  pause,  and  instantly  recoil- 
ed from  the  fire  of  the  cannon  and  musquetry.  But  the 
centre  column,  having  advanced  upon  every  assailable 
point  of  the  fort,  in  defiance  of  the  rapid  and  heavy  dis- 
charges of  the  artillery,  and  having  ascended  the  parapet 
by  means  of  a  large  number  of  scaling  ladders,  its  offi- 
cers called  out  to  the  line,  extending  to  the  lake,  to  desist 
firing — an  artifice  which  succeeded  so  well,  that  the 
Douglas  battery,  and  the  infantry,  supposing  the  order  to 
proceed  from  the  garrison,  suspended  their  fire,  until  the 
deception  was  discovered.  The  left  column,  in  the  mean 
time,  recovered  from  its  confusion,  and  was  led  up  to  a 
second  charge,  from  urhich  it  was  again  repulsed,  before 
it  had  an  opportunity  of  planting  the  scaling  ladders,  and 
with  the  loss  of  its  commander,  and  upwards  of  one-third 
of  its  men. 

Whilst  the  second  attempt  was  in  operation,  the  centre 
column  was.  with  creat  difficultv.  thrown  back  from  the 
sahcnt    bastion;  and  the  troops  within  the  fort,  were 


i!;i 


ill 


# 


-m 


I'  *^  1 


312 

quickly  reinforce*!  from  general  Ripley's  bri<za.lenml  ge 
neral  Porter's  volunteers.-But,  lieutenant  colonel  1).  um- 
mond,  actuated  by  a  <leterinination  not  to  be  overcome 
by  a  single  repulse)  to  force  an  entrance  into  tbe  garri- 
Jn,  and  monJientarily  cxpecrmp;  tbe  reserve  to  bo  or-, 
dered  up  by  the  lieutenant  general,  returned  to  the  as- 
sault u  second  and  a  third  time.     By  the  gallant  effo  ts, 
hovvever,  of  ninjor  Hindman  and  his  artillery,  aud  the 
infrntry  detachment  of  major  Trimble,  he  was,  each 
«me.  more  signally  repulsed  than  before ;  and  colonel 
sTott's  column  having  withdrawn  from  the  action   upon 
the  lall  of  its  leader,  lieutenant  Douglass  was  ousily  en- 
Raged  in  giving  such  a  direction  to  theguns  of  his  battery, 
S  to  cut  off  the  communication  between  Drummond, 
column,  and  the  reserve  of  lieutenant  colonel  Tucker. 

The  iew  bastions  which  had  been  commenced  for  he 
enlargement  of  the  old  fort  Erie,  not  being  yet  complet- 
ed, the  only  opposition  which  could  be  given  to  the  ene- 
mh  apprJaclhes  Upon  those  points,  was  by  means  of 
srJall  arms.  The  t,ktterie8  of  captain  Biddle  and  captain 
Fining  (formerly  Fontain's)  in  the  >yorks  intervening 
LTw^nTowson's  battery ^and  the  o»'t,  rere  therefore 
opened  upon  the  enemy  with  great  vivacity,  and  his  ad- 
yances  from  the  plain,  frequently  checked  by  those 
gallant  and  meritorious  officers. 

^  After  this  third  repulse,  lieut,  col.  Drummond,  taking 
advantaee  of  the  darkness  of  the  mc.mng,  and  of  the 
Seavrcolumns  of  smoke,  which  concealed  all  objects 
fromVe  view  of  the  garrison,  moved  his  troops^nUy 
round  the  ditch,  repeated  his  charge,  and  [eas^^nd^^  his 
ladders  with  such  velocity,  as  to  gain  fooUng  «V^^  PJ* 
rapet,  before  any  effectual  opposition  ««»»f  .^^  ™«^f^ 
Beine  in  the  very  midst  of  his  men,  he  directed  them  to 
charge  vigorously  with  thtlr  pikes  and  bayonets,  and  to 
show  no  quarter  to  any  yielding  soldier  of  the  gamson.* 
This  order  was  executed  with  the  utmost  rapidity,  and 
the  most  obstinate  previous  parts  of  the  engagement, 
formed  no  kind  of  parallel  to  the  violence  and  despera- 
tion of  the  present  conflict. 

•  General  Gaines,  in  hU  official  kUer.  y^^^jPf  ^f"  |j^"*;S 
colonel  Drummond,  observes,  -  The  order  of  •Gj.eM^^^^^ 
A.-.  «„  nnart.r.*-  was  oftcn  reiterated  b)  this  officer,  wnose 
Wer'y,''if  it  hkd  been  seasoned  with  virtue,  wouW  aave  emp- 
tied bim  to  the  admiration  of  every  soldier. 

m 


ai3 

Captain  Willmmjn,  and  lieutonftnts  M'Donough  and 
Wnfmou8;h,  of  the  artillery,  being  in  the  moat  conspi- 
cuous Bituations,  were  personally  engaged  with  the  as- 
sailants, and  were  all  severely  wounded— the  first,  cap- 
tain Williams,  mortally.*  Not  all  the  efforts  of  major 
Hindman  and  his  command,  nor  major  Trimble's  infan- 
try, nor  a  detachment  of  riflemen  under  captain  Birdsall, 
who  had  posted  himself  in  the  ravelin,  onposite  the  gate- 
way of  the  fort,  could  dislodge  the  determined  and  intre- 
pid enemy  from  the  bastion  ;  though  the  clemlly  effects 
of  their  fire  prevented  his  approaches  beyond  it.  He  had 
now  complete  possession  of  the  bastion.  About  this 
time,  lieutenant  M'Donough'a  wounds,  rendered  him  al- 
most incapable  of  further  resistance,  and  he  demanded 
quarter  from  the  enemy,  but,  lieutenant  colonel  Drum- 
mond  personally  refused  it,  and  repeated  his  instructions 
to  his  troops,  to  deny  it,  in  all  instances.  The  shock- 
ing inhumanity  of  this  order  roused  the  exhausted  spirit 
of  the  lieutenant,  and  seizing  a  handspike,  he  defended 
himself  against  a  numerous  party  of  the  assailants,  until 
he  received  a  pistol  shot  discharged  at  him  by  the  hand 
of  their  commander.  Lieutenant  colonel  Drummond  sur- 
vived this  act  but  a  few  moments,  the  fall  of  M'Donough 
being  avenged  by  a  person  standing  near  him,  who  im- 
mediately shot  the  colonel  through  the  breast. 

The  loss  of  their  leader  did  not  check  the  impetuosity 
of  the  enemy's  troops,  and  they  continued  in  the  use  of 
their  pikes  and  small  arms  until  the  day  broke,  and  re- 
pulsed several  furious  charges  made  upon  them  by  de- 

i*  "^IVm,?""'*^*®  y*'""ff  "^^«*'  was  the  son  of  colonel  Jona- 
than  Williams,  who  had  long- been  at  the  head  of  the  United 
States  engineer  department ;  to  whom  the  nation  is  greatly 
indebted  for  the  construction  of  many  of  the  principal  fortifi- 
cations;  and  who  was  a  member  elect  of  the  fourteenth  con- 
gress,  from  the  city  of  Philadelphia.  The  captain  was  also 
formerly  of  the  engineer  corps,  but  having  been  transferred  to 
tie  artillery,  and  being  anxious  to  share  in  the  honours  and 
the  perils  of  the  campaign  of  1814,  he  solicited  to  be  sent  to 
the  Niagara  frontier,  and  received  an  order  to  repair  thither 
from  fort  MilHin,  a  garrison  which,  for  several  months,  he  bad 
commanded  with  reputation.  Early  in  the  spring  of  that  ye*r. 
though  in  a  state  of  convalescence  from  a  dangerous  fever,  he 
proceeded  to  the  lines,  and  joined  the  army  of  general  Brown. 

in  WulCIl  no  offirmt*  lira*  mnv«  iiniuAwaoll..  ^-<. I  ' 


! 


fj. 


..V    t) 


su 


I  ,-.1 


if  '.' 


tachmcnta  of  the  garrison.  The  approach  of  day-Ught 
enabled  both  parties  to  give  a^more  certain  direction  to 
their  fire.  The  artillerists  had,  already,  severely  suffered ; 
hut  with  those  tliat  remained,  and  a  reinforcing  detach- 
jnent  of  infantry,  major  Hindman  renewed  his  attempts 
to  drive  the  British  41st  and  104th  from  the  bastion.— 
Captain  Birdsall,  at  the  same  moment,  drawing  out  his 
riflemen  from  the  ravelin,  rushed  through  the  gateway 
into  the  fort,  and  joining  in  the  charge,  received  an  ac- 
cidental wound  from  one  of  his  own  men,  just  as  the  at- 
tack failed.  Detachments  from  the  1st  brigade,  under 
captain  Foster,  were  then  introduced  over  the  interior 
bastion,  to  the  assistance  of  major  Hindman;  these  de- 
tachments were  to  charge  at  a  different  pomt  of  the  sah- 
ent  or  exterior  bastion,  and  were  handsomely  led  on  by 
captain  Foster,  and  the  assistant  inspector  general,  major 
Hall.  This  charge  also  failed ;  the  passage  up  the  bas- 
tion not  being  wide  enough  to  admit  more  than  three 
men  abreast.  It  was  frequentlv,  however,  repeated;  and 
though  it  sometimes  occasioned  much  slaughter  among 
the  enemy's  infantry,  was  invariably  repulsed.  By  the 
operations  of  the  artillery  from  a  demi-bastion  in  the  tort, 
and  the  continual  blaze  of  (ire  from  the  small  arms,  ad- 
ded to  the  effects  of  the  repeated  charges,  the  enemy  s 
column,  being  considerably  cnt  up,  and  many  of  its  prin- 
cipal  officers  wounded,  began  to  recoil ;  which,  being 
observed  by  the  besieged  party,  and  the  contest  having 
entirely  subsided  on  the  left  flank  of  the  works»  rein- 
forcements were  brought  up  from  that  point,  and  many 
of  the  enemy's  troops,  in  a  few  moments,  thrown  Irom 

tlie  bastion. 

The  British  reserve  was  now  expected  to  come 
up;  tile  guns  at  the  Douglas  battery  had  by  this  time 
been  turned  so  as  to  enfilade  that  column  m  its  ap- 
proach; captain  Fanning  was  already  playing  upon  the 
Snemy  with  great  effect ;  and  captain  Biddle  was  ordered 
to  post  a  piece  of  artillery,  so  as  to  enfilade  the  salient 
elacis.  This  piece  was  served  with  uncommon  vivacity, 
notwithstanding  captain  Biddle  had  been  severe^ 
wounded  in  the  shoulder.    All  these  preparations  being 

1-    r^-  „«  ^fft>ntnn\  nnprAtinn  uDon  the  enemy  s  re- 

maining  column,  and  from  the  dreadful  carnage  M 
had  al^ndy  taken  place,  it  was  scarcely  supposed  t;iat 


315 

be  would  continue  the  Rssault  much  lenger.  But  three 
or  four  hundred  men  of  the  reserve,  were  about  to 
rush  upon  the  parapet  to  the  assistance  of  those  re- 
coiling, when  a  tremendous  and  dreadful  explosion  too|c 
place,  under  the  platform,  which  carried  away  the  bas- 
tion, and  ail  who  happened  to  be  upon  it.*  The  enemy's 
reserve  immediately  fell  back,  and  in  a  short  time  the 
contest  terminated  in  the  entire  defeat  of  the  assailants, 
v^o  returned,  with  the  shattered  columns,  to  their  en- 
campment. 

On  retiring  from  the  assault,  according  to  the  report  of 
general  Gaines,  the  British  army  left  upon  the  field  222 
killed,  among  whom  were  14  officers  of  distinction ;  174 
wounded;  and  186  prisoners,  making  a  total  of  582.  Others 
who  were  slightly  wounded  had  been  carried  to  their  works. 

The  official  account  of  lieutenant  general  Drummond, 
does  not  acknowledge  so  large  a  numbt  in  killed,  but 
makes  the  aggregate  loss  much  greater.  His  adjutant 
general  reported,  67  killed  ;  309  wounded ;  and  539  mis- 
sing— ^iii  all  905. 

The  American  loss  amounted  to  17  killed;  58  wound- 
ed; and  1  lieut  (Fontain)  who  was  thrown  over  the  para- 
pet, while  defending  the  bastion,  and  10  privates,  prison- 

*  This  explosion,  to  which  alone  the  enemy  attributed  the 
failure  of  his  arms,  notwiths-^anding  the  signal  repulses  of  his 
right  and  left  columns,  has  been  variously  accounted  for.  It 
was  occasioned  by  the  communication  of  a  9park  to  an  ammu. 
nition  chest,  placed  under  the  platform  of  the  bastion,  but  by 
what  means  the  narrator  of  this  event  has  not  been  able,  after 
an  investigation  of  many  papers  written  to  him  upon  the  sub- 
ject, to  ascertain.  It  is  to  be  regretted,  that  a  fact  constitute 
ingso  important  a  feature  m  this  memorable  defence,  should 
never  have  been  satisfactorily  developed.  S.veral  letters 
from  officers,  engaged  at  the  right  flank  of  the  American 
works,  state  it  to  have  been  the  result  of  entite  accident^ 
whilst  others  relate,  that  lieutenant  M'Donough,  not  having 
been  immediately  removed  from  the  foot  of  the  bastion,  on 
which  he  had  been  twice  wounded,  and  being  liighly  exas< 
perated  at  the  determination,  which  he  saw  in  the  conduct  of 
the  enemy's  trcops,  to  show  no  mercy  to  the  vanquished  soldier, 
resolved  upon  devoting  himself  to  stop  the  progress  of  their 
inhuman  career,  and  to  this  end  threw  alighted  match  into 
the  chest  of  ammunition,  and  by  its  immediate  explosion,  pro- 
duced those  tremendous  effects,  which  restored  the  bastion  to 
the  Americans*  and  terminated  the  conflict. 

Ec 


h 


316 


^n 


H    f 


' .'    if 


}\  •  1- 


iiti — ia  all  84  men:  making  a  difference  in  their fayour  of 
821.  During  the  cannonade  and  bombardment  which  com- 
menced on  the  13th,  and  continued  until  an  hour  before 
the  assault  on  the  morning  of  the  15th,  45  men  of  the 
American  garrison  were  killed  and  wounded.  Captain 
Biddle,  lieutenant  Zantzinger,  and  adjutant  lieutenant 
Watmough,  of  the  artillery,  and  lieutenant  Patterson,  of 
the  19th  infantry,  among  the  latter. 

A  night  or  two  before  the  attack  upon  fort  Erie,  tlie 
British  general  furnished  captain  Dobbs,  of  the  royal  na- 
vy, with  a  sufficient  number  of  troops  to  man  nine  large 
boat»,  which  were  completely  fitted,  to  attack  the  three 
schooners,  the  Somers,  Porcupine,  and  Ohio,  then  lying 
at  anchor  off  the  fort.  The  Porcupine  succeeded  in  beat- 
ing them  off,  but  the  Somers  and  Ohio  were  carried,  after 
a  gallant  resistance,  in  which  the  enemy  lost  two  seamen 
killed,  and  four  wounded ;  and  the  schooners,  one  sea- 
man killed,  and  three  officers  and  four  seamen  wounded. 
The  captured  schooners  were  taken  down  the  Niagara, 
and  anchored  near  Frenchman's  creek ;  the  Porcupine 
immediately  after  sailed  for  the  town  of  Erie. 

In  consequence  of  his  immense  losses  in  the  assault, 
the  enemy's  force  was  reduced  almost  to  the  number  of 
the  troops  within  the  garrison ;  and,  until  he  was  again 
reinforced,  he  did  not  think  proper  to  carry  on  his  opera- 
tions. A  few  days  brought  him  a  reinforcement  of  two 
full  regiments,  and  having  enlarged  his  batteries,  and 
made  arrangements  to  force  the  Americans  to  the  evacu- 
ation of  fort  Erie,  he  opened  a  fire  from  his  whole  line,  and 
threw  in  hot  shot,  shells,  and  every  destructive  imple- 
ment within  his  reach,  without  intermission,  during  the  re- 
mainder of  the  month  of  August.  On  the  28th,  gen.  Gaines 
was  severely  wounded  in  several  parts  of  his  body,  by  a 
shell  which  fell  through  the  roof  of  his  quarters,  and  explod- 
ed at  his  feet.  He  was  fortunate  enough  to  escape  suffoca- 
tion, by  gaining  the  door  of  the  apartment,  but  being  en- 
tirely disabled,  he  retired  to  Buffaloe,  and  left  the  com- 
mand again  in  the  hands  of  gen.  Ripley,  who  neglected  no 
means  to  facilitate  the  completion  of  the  works,  which, 
with  the  assistance  of  the  engineers,  he  had  originally 


plan'^ 


LlVUi 


'■ml 


CHAPTER  XX. 

hwasion  of  the  American  territory  by  Sir  George  Prevosi 
— Battle  of  the  Saranac — Defeat  and  capture  of  the  Bri' 
Ush  Fleet  on  Lake  Champlain — Hattsburg  evacuated — 
Continuation  of  the  siege  of  Fort  Erie — The  besieged 
make  a  sortie  from  their  works,  and  storm  those  of  the  ber 
siegers — The  British  raise  the  siege,  and  retire  to  the 
Chippewa — Engagement  at  Lyon's  Creek — Destruction 
of  Fort  Erie  by  the  Americans,  and  evacuation  of  Upper 
Canada — Operations  against  Michilimiickinac — Loss  of 
the  U.  S.  vessels  Scorpion  and  Tigress — Expedition  into 
Canada,  under  General  M^ Arthur. 

THE  operations  against  the  enemy's  positions  along 
the  Niagara,  had  scarcely  been  entered  upon,  when  the 
governor  general,  -^-ir  George  Prevost,  matured  the  plan 
of  an  expedition,  having  for  its  object  the  invasion  of  the 
American  territory  from  Lower  Canada ;  the  defeat  and 
destruction  of  the  right  division  of  the  United  States*  ar- 
my, then  lying  in  the  neignbourhood  of  Piattsburg,  under 
major  general  Izard  ;  and  the  subjugation  of  the  country 
to  Crown  Point   and  Ticonderoga.     No  offensive  mea- 
sures, against  any  part  of  Lower  Canada,  by  Uiis  army, 
being  at  that  time  in  contemplation,  and  the  apprehen- 
sions of  the  war  department  having  been  strongly  excited 
about  tlie  safety  of  the  left  division,  after  its  investment 
at  fort  Erie,  general  Izard  received  orders  to  march  for 
that  post,  with  a  reinforcement  of  the  largest  proportion 
of  his  troops,  and  to  assume  the  command  of  the  garri- 
son.   Accordingly,  after  detaching  about  1600  men,  un- 
der brigadier  general  Macomb,  most  of  whom  were  ei- 
ther sick  or  convalescent,  and  requiring  of  general  Mooers, 
of  the  New  York  militia,  the  aid  of  a  few  volunteer  com- 
panies, for  the  defence  of  Piattsburg,  he  marched   for 
Sackett's  Harbor,  with  upwards  of  3,000  men.    Being 
thus  left  in  command  of  a  position,  open  to  the  attacks  of 
the  enemy's  naval,  as  well  as  his  land,  forces,  general 
Macomb   neglected  no  precaution  m  prevent  surprize, 
and  to  put  his  small  army  in  the  b<      state  of  discipline, 


J    f': 


318 


■  'J 

■-'■i 


/I' 

11 


i 


thou^  on  the  Ist  of  September,  in  consequence  of  the 
best  brigades  having  been  broken  up,  to  form  general 
Izard'^  diTision,  he  had  but  one  battalion  properly  organ- 
ized. The  works  Erecting  were  on  that  day  unfinished, 
and  the  troops,  therefore,  divided  into  detachments  to 
complete  them. 

Transports,  with  troops,  had  been  continually  arriving 
at  Quebec,  from  England,  and  such  was  the  secrecy  and 
address  with  which  sir  George  Prevost  made  prepara- 
tions for  his  intended  expedition,  that,  before  the  first  of 
September,  he  had  organized  a  powerful  army  of  14,000 
men,  opposite  Montreal,  constituted  of  the  most  expe- 
rienced generals,  and  distinguished  officers  of  the  British 
army.  This  comparatively  immense  force  consisted  of 
three  brigades,  and  a  corps  of  reserve,  the  brigades  be- 
ing divided  into  twenty-four  divisions,  and  having  a  staflf, 
composed  of  two  lieutenants  general,  five  majors  general, 
and  a  proportionate  number  of  assistants  and  deputies. 
The;  respective  brigades  were  commanded  by  majors 
general,  Robertson,  Powers,  Brisbane,  and  Baynes  (ad- 
jutant general*)  Major  general  Kempt  commanded  the  re- 
serve. Sir  Sidney  Beckwith  was  quarter  master  general 
to  thia  army,  and  lieut.  gen.  De  Rottenburg,  the  seconil 
in  command;  sir  George  Prevost  commanding  in  person. 

About  the  1st  of  the  month,  he  occupied  with  these 
troops  the  village  of  Champlain,  and  issued  addresses 
and  proclamations,  inviting  the  citizens  to  his  stand- 
ard, and  promising  them  the  protection  of  bis  majes- 
ty's government.  From  Champlain  he  continued  to 
make  gradual  approaches  towards  Plattsburg,  until  the 
6th.  Early  on  the  morning  of  that  day  he  made  a  rapid 
advance,  in  two  columns,  one  coming  down  the  Beck- 
mantown  road,  and  the  other  along  the  Lake  road.  At 
a  bridge  crossing  Dead  creek,  intersecting  the  latter, 
general  Macomb  had  stationed  a  detachment  of  200  men, 
under  captain  Sproul,  of  the  13th,  to  abattis  the  woods, 
and  to  place  obstructions  in  the  road;  after  which,  he 
was  to  fortify  himself  with  two  field  pieces,  sent  with 
him  for  that  purpose,  and  to  receive  orders  from  lieute- 
nant colonel  Appling,  who,  with  100  riflemen,  was  re- 
connoitring the  enemy's  movements  some  distance  in  ad- 
vance of  this  position.  The  brigade  of  general  Brisbane, 
which  approached  through  the  Beckmantown  road  with 


319 


I  from  lieute- 
men,  was  re- 


more  ra[Hdity  than  the  other,  was  met  by  about  700^i 
litia,  untltM*  general  Mooers,  who,  after  a  slight  skirmi&h 
with  tlie  enemy's  light  parties,  with  the  exception  of  one 
or  two  companies,  fled  in  the  greatest  disorder.  Tlioso 
who  were  intrepid  enough  to  remain,  were  immediately 
formed  with  a  corps  of  250  regulars,  under  major  Wooll, 
of  the  29th,  and  disputed  the  passage  of  the  road  for 
some  time.  But  their  fears  also  getting  at  length  the  bet- 
ter of  their  judgment,  notwithstanding  the  enemy  fired 
only  from  his  flankers  and  patrolling  parties,  they  fol- 
lowed the  example  of  their  comrades,  and  preci[)itatcly 
retired  to  the  village.  Major  WooU's  regulars  remained 
tirm,  however,  and  being  joined  by  capt.  L.  Leonard's 
park  of  flying  artillery,  and  the  6th,  and  a  detachment 
of  the  34th  regiments,  continued  to  annoy  the  advanced 
parties  of  the  British  column,  and  killed  lieutenant  colo- 
nel Wellington,  of  the  3d,  or  butfs,  who  was  at  its  head. 

General  Macomb,  at  this  moment,  personally  direct- 
ing the  movements  in  the  town,  soon  saw  that  the  ene- 
my's object,  in  making  so  much  more  rapid  a  march  on 
its  west,  than  on  the  north,  was  to  cut  off  lieutenant  co- 
lonel Appling's  atul  captain  Sprout's  detachments,  des- 
patched his  aid,  lieutenant  Root,  with  orders  to  those  of- 
ticers  to  withdraw  their  forces  from  Dead  creek,  to  join 
the  detachment  of  major  Wooll,  and  to  fall  upon  tlie  ei^e- 
ray's  right  flank.  Whilst  lieutenant  colonel  Appling  was 
proceeding  in  obedience  to  this  order,  he  was  encoun* 
tercd  on  the  north  side  of  the  town,  by  the  light  divisions  of 
the  enemy's  1st  brigade,  sent  for  the  purpose  of  cutting 
him  off,  and  which  had  that  mom«nt  emerged  from  the 
woods.Their  numbers  were  superior,  and  had  he  been  delay . 
ed  an  instant  loiiger  on  the  Lake  road,  he  must  inevitably 
have  yielded.  Here  he  engaged,  but  after  a  short  con- 
test, retired  before  them.  In  the  centre  of  the  town  he 
re-engaged  them,  and  being  joined  by  major  V/ooll,  was 
ordered  to  retire  to  the  American  work:s  on  the  south  of 
the  Saranac. 

The  retreat  was  effected  in  good  order,  and.  covered 
by  a  guard  of  120  men,  undf  captain  M'Glassin,  of  the 
16th  infantry ;  the  detachments  alternately   reliring  and 


J 


?*Yii\  pflfoctiiril  firf?  ijfjon  th.p.  T?rit!?.h  r.n- 


lumns.     Having  reached  the  works  with  a  trifling  loss, 
general  Macomb  Ojfdered  lieutenant  Harrison;  of  the  13ih, 

E  e  2 


,  \m' 


t' , 


y  ■ 


.■  J'::: 


320 


lis^'j 


I.J, 


under  the  direction  of  inivjor  Wool!,  aud  protected  by 
captain  Leonard's  artillery,  to  destroy  the  bridge  over  the 
8aranac. 

Tins  orcter  was  not  executed  Mfithout  some  difficulty. 
The  British  having  occupied  the  houses  near  the  bridge, 
with  their  Ii8;ht  troops,  Icept  up  a  constant  fire  from  the 
windows,  and  wounded  lieutenants  Harrison  and  Tur- 
ner, of  the  13th,  and  Taylor,  of  the  3*th.    These  troops 
were,  however,  soon  after  dislodged  by  a  discharge  of 
hot  shot  from  tlie  American  works,  and  in  conjunction 
witli  the  right  column,  were  engaged  the  remainder  of 
the  day  in  various  attempts  to  drive  the  guard?  from  the 
the  several  bridges.— But  the  planks  had  all  been  taken 
up,  and  being  placed  in  the  form  of  breastworks,  served 
to  cover  the  American  light  pariies  stntioned  for  the  de- 
it&ice  of  the  passages.     Th«5  obstructions  which  had  been 
thrown  in  the  way  of  the  column  advancing  by  the  liBke 
roatl,  and  the  destruction  of  the  bridge  over  Dead  creek, 
greatly  impeded  its  approaches,  and,  in  attempting  to 
ford  the  creek,  it  received  a  severe  and  destructive  fire, 
from  the  gun-boats  and  gallics  anchored  in  front  of  the 
town.     But  not  all  the  gallies,  aided  by  the  armament  of 
the  whole  flotilla,  which  then  lay  opposite  Plattsburg,  un- 
der commodore  Macdonough,  could  have  prevented  the 
capture  of  Macomb's   army,  after  its   passage    of  the 
Sarauac,  had  sir  George  Prevost  pushed  his  whole  force 
upon  the  margin  of  that  stream.     Like  general  Drum- 
mond,  at  Erie,  he  made  a  pause,  in  full  view  of  the  un- 
finished works  of  the  Americans,  and  consumed  five 
days  in  erecting  batteries,  and  throwing  up  breastworks, 
for  the  protection  of  his  approaches.    Of  this  interval  the 
American  general  did  not  fail  to  avail  himself,  and  kept 
his  troops  constantly  employed  in  finishing  his  line  of  re- 
doubts.   Whilst  both  parties  were  thus  engaged  in  pro- 
viding for  the  protection  of  their  forces,  the  main  body  of 
the  British  army  came  up  with  the  advance  ;  and  gene- 
ral Macomb  was  also  reinforced  by  the  militia  of  New 
York,  and  the  volunteers  from  the  mountains  of  Ver- 
mont.    Skirmishes  between  light  detachments,   sallies 
from  the  different  works,  and  frequent  iVitempts  to  restor^e 
the  DRTl^es,  served  to  amuse  the  'jcilegcrs  and  the  .e- 
•ieged,  ^hile  the  former  were  fetfrn^  up  a  train  of  bat- 
tenng  cannon,  and  the  latter  ^iieiigthening  their  Imeff, 


h:  ^i'. 


And  preparing  to  repel  the  attack.  In  one  of  these  ikir- 
mUheH,  on  the  7th,  a  Britiiih  (iutachinont  making  a  vio- 
lent effort  to  obtain  poaseisBion  of  the  pm»  of  a  bi  iilge, 
w»s  handsomely  repuUeil  by  a  flmall  guard  under  lieute- 
nant Runk  of  the  6th  iiiAintry,  who  received  a  mutiket  ball 
in  hia  body,  and  expired  on  (he  following  day.  He  was 
the  only  officer  killed  (hiring  the  siege. 

The  New  York  militia  and  Vermont  volunteers,  were 
now  principally  Btationed  at  the  difl'erent  bridgee  croBiing 
the  Saranac,  or  in  the  wood  opposite  the  fording  places. 
From  these  positions  they  annoyed  the  enemy's  guards, 
and  poured  repeated  discharges  of  musquetry  into  his 
maHked  batteries. 

Two  of  general  Macomb's  new  works  were  called  fort 
Brown,  and  fort  Scolt,  and  o|)posite  the  former  it  was  sus- 
pected, a  very  powerful  masked  battery  had  been  con- 
structed, in  order  suddenly  to  demolish  it,  at  a  time  of 
general  attack.    To' discover  the  truth  of  this  suspicion, 
and  if  possible  to  destroy  or  to  mutilate  such  a  work,  cap- 
tain M'Glassin,  on  the  night  of  the  9th,  volunteered  his 
services,  to  ford  the  river  with  a  competent  detachment. 
His  enterprise  was  approved  of  by  the  general,  who  as- 
signed him  the  command  of  fffty  men. — With  these  the 
captain  succeeded  in  fording  the  river  nearly  under  fort 
Brown,  and  upon  gaining  the  opposite  shore,  proceeded 
with  great  secrecy  about  300  yards.     At  this  distance, 
from  the  margin  of  the  river,  he  encountered  a  guard  of 
150  men,  whom  he  instantly  engaged,  and  with  such  vi- 
gour ami  address,  as  to  deceive  them,  with  respect  to 
his  own  force,  and  aftera  short  contest  to  drive  them  behind 
a  work,  which  he  discovered  to  be  the  suspected  masked 
battery.  Having  succeeded  in  the  accomplishment  of  one 
of  the  objects  of  his  enterprise,  neither  captain  M'Olas- 
sin,  nor  his  brave  detachment,  could  think  of  returning 
to  the  army,  without  having  signalized  the  expedition  by 
some  act,  more  important  in  its  consequences,  than  the 
putting  to  flight  an  enemy's  guard,  however  superior  in 
numbers.    He  accordingly  led  up  his  detachment  to 
charge  upon  the  work,  into  which  the  British  guard  had 
fled,  and  by  one  or  two  vigorous  onsets,  in  which  he  had 


<niiri«|£>/1  t^iA  HnHofV',  ^fiH  £ti- 


ttrely  routed  its  defenders,  with  the  loss  of  their  com- 
manding officer  and  sixteen  men  killed,  and  several 


Pit- 


H'    1 


322 


wounded.  Being  now  in  possession  of  a  work,  wliidi 
would  Iiavc  incalculably  annoyed  the  batteries  at  fort 
Brown,  captain  M'Glassin  destroyed  it  with  all  possible 
haste,  and  returned  to  the  Ajnericau  works,  with  the  loss 
of  three  men  missing.  Fo't  thi*  gallant  and  hazardous 
essay,  which  had  a  tendency  not  only  to  deceive  the 
British  general  with  regard  to  the  actual  force  of  general 
Macomb's  army,  and  to  inspire  the  troops,  militia  as 
well  as  regulars,  with  a  spirit  of  enterprize,  but  placed  a 
principal  work,  fort  Brown,  beyond  the  possibility  of  be- 
ing silenced,  captain  M'Glassin  received  the  public 
thanks  of  his  commanding  officer,  and  the  brevet  rank  of 
major,  from  the  president  of  the  United  States. 

On  the  morning  of  the  1 1th,  the  motives  of  the  British 
general,  in  delaying  his  assault  upon  the  American  works, 
became  apparent.  Being  assured  of  his  ability,  at  any 
time,  to  destroy  them  by  a  single  effort,  he  was  regard- 
less, of  the  manner  in  which  they  might  be  gradually 
strengthened,  and  awaited  the  arrival  of  the  British 
squadron  from  lake  Champlain,  in  co-operation  with 
which,  he  contemiilated  a  general  attack,  and  the  easy 
capture  of  the  American  fleet  and  army.  On  that  day, 
his  fleet,  consisting  of  a  large  frigate,  the  Confiance,  of  39 
guns;  the  brig  Linnet,  of  16;  the  sloops  Chub  and  Finch 
Tformerly  the  United  States'  sloops  Growler  and  Eagle) 
of  11  guns  each;  and  13  gun-boats  and  row-gallies, 
mounting  in  all  95  guns,  and  having  a  complement  of 
1  050  men,  made  its  appearance,  under  captam  Downie, 
round  Cumberland  Head,  and  immediately  engaged  the 
American  squ«dron,  under  commodore  Macdonough, 
then  moored  in  Flattsburg  bay,  and  consisting  of  the 
ship  Saratoga;  the  brig  Eagle;  the  schooner  licondo- 
ro4-  the  sloop  Preble;  and  10  gun-boats,  mounting 
altogether  86  guns,  (tl  largest  vessel  carrying  26)  and 
being  manned  with  820  men.  , 

The  first  gun  from  the  Confiance  was  the  signal  for  a 
general  akon,  and  sir  George  Prevost  instantly  opened 
his  batteries  upon  the  works  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the 
Saranac.  A  tremendous  cannonade  ensued ;  bomb-shells 
and  Congreve  rockets  were  thrown  into  the  American 

lines  duk'iug  me  vviiuic  way  ,  anvt  i.vr|«......  -— , 

attempts  made  to  ford  the  river.    At  a  bridge,  about  a 
mile  up  the  river,  an  attempt  to  throw  over  a  division  oi 


333 


the  enemy's  army,  was  handsomely  repulsed  by  a  de- 
tachment of  regulars ;  and  an  effort  to  force  th2  passage 
of  the  bridge  in  the  town,  was  effectually  checked  by  ft 
party  of  riflemen,  under  captain  Grosvenor.  But  the 
principal  slaughter  took  place  at  a  ford  three  miles  from 
the  works* — There  the  enemy  succeeded  in  crossing  over 
three  companies  of  the  76th  regiment,  before  his  ad- 
rance  was  impeded.  A  body  of  volunteers  and  militia, 
stationed  in  a  contiguous  wood,  opened  a  heavy  fire  upon 
them,  and  after  a  spirited  contest,  in  which  one  of  these 
companies  was  entirely  destroyed,  its  captain  killed, 
and  3  lieutenants,  and  27  men  made  prisoners,  those 
who  had  attained  the  shore  fell  back  in  disorder,  upon 
an  approaching  column,  then  in  the  middle  of  the  river. 
The  receding  and  advancing  columns  mingled  with  each 
other,  and  being  closely  pressed  by  the  volunteers,  the 
whole  body  was  thrown  into  a  state  of  confusion,  from 
which  the  officers  could  not  recover  them ;  numbers 
were  killed  in  the  stream,  and  the  dead  and  wounded 
being  swept  along  by  the  force  of  the  current,  sunk  into 
one  common  grave. 

But  the  result  of  the  engagement  between  the  two  na- 
val armaments,  which  continued  upwards  of  two  hours, 
in  presence  of  the  contending  armies,  soon  determined 
the  action  upon  land.  Its  effects  were  sensibly  felt  by 
the  British  general,  whose  plans  were  completely  frus- 
trated by  its  issue.  After  getting  round  Cumberland 
Head,  captain  Downie  anchored  his  fleet,  within  300 
yards  of  the  line  formed  by  commodore  Macdonougti, 
and  placing  the  Confiance  frigate  in  opposition  to  the  Sa- 
ratoga ;  the  Linnet  to  the  Eagle,  captain  Henley ;  one  of 
his  sloops  and  all  his  gallies,  to  the  schooner  Ticondero- 
ga,  lieutenant  commandant  Cassin,  and  the  sloop  Preble. 
His  other  sloop,  alternately  assisting  the  Saratoga  and 
Eagle.  The  latter  vessel  was  so  situated  shortly  after 
the  commencement  of  the  action,  that  her  guns  could  not 
be  brought  to  bear,  and  captain  Henley  cut  her  cable, 
and  placed  her  between  the  commodore's  ship  and  the 
Ticonderoga,  from  which  situation,  though  she  exposed 
the  Saratoga  to  a  galling  fire,  she  annoyed  the  enemy's 
squadron  with  much  effect.  Some  minutes  after  ten 
nearly  all  iiie  guu!^  uii  the  siarbuaid  side  of  the 


UCiOCS, 


Saratoga  being  either  clismounted  or  entirely  unmanage- 


m 


d£4 


able,  commodore  Macdonoue;h  was  obliged  to  put  out  a 
stern  anchor,  and  to  cut  the  bower  cable,  by  which 
means  the  Saratoga  winded  on  the  enemy's  frigate  with 
a  fresh  broadside,  which  being  promptly  delivered,  the 
Confiance  imm.'^liately  after  surrendered,  with  105  round 
Bhot  in  b.'i  hi>JJ.  and  her  captain  and  49  men  UiHed,  and 
60  W(.unil"«!.  The  Saratoga  had  66  round  shot  in  her 
hull,  and  had  been  twice  set  on  fire  by  hot  shot  from  the 
Confiance,  but  she  sustained  a  loss  of  only  28  in  killed, 
and  29  wounded,  notwithstanding  she  mounted  13  guns 
less  than  her  antagonist.  The  Confiance  had  no  sooner 
surrendered,  than  tV  Suiuio^^i's broadside  was  sprungto 
bear  on  the  brig,  whose  flaj;  struck  fifteen  mmutes 
after.  Captain  Henley,  in  the  Eagle,  bad  already  cap- 
tured one  of  the  enemy's  sloops ;  and 'the  Ticonderoga, 
after  having  sustained  a  galling  fire,  caused  the  surrender 
of  the  remaining  vessel.  The  principal  vessels  of  the 
British  fleet  being  now  all  captured,  and  three  of  their 
roW  gallies  sunk,  the  remaining  ten  escaped  from  the  bay 
in  a  shattered  condition. 

Among  the  officers  killed  on  board  the  Saratoga,  was 
the  first  lieutenant.  Gamble ;  and  on  board  the  Ticon- 
deroga, lieut.  John  Stansbury,  (son  of  gen.  Tobias  Stans- 
bury,  of  Maryland,)  who  was  shot  upon  mounting  the 
netting,  to  discover  in  what  manner  the  guns  of  his  divi 
sion  might  be  brought  to  bear  more  effectually  upon  one  of 
the  enemy's  vessels.  Among  the  wounded  were  lieute- 
nant Smith,  acting  lieutenant  Spencer,  and  midshii»mari 
Baldwin.  The  total  loss  of  commodore  Macdonoughs 
squadron,  amounted  to  62  men  killed,  and  58  wounded. 
The  enemy's  loss  was,  84  men  killed,  110  wounded,  and 
866  prisoners,  who  alone  amounted  to  a  greater  number 
than  those  by  whom  they  were  taken.  ^ 

The  caplure  of  his  fleet  being  announced  to  sir  George 
Prevost,  he  immediately  withdrew  his  forces  from  the 
assault  of  the  American  works.  From  his  batteries, 
however,  he  kept  up  a  constant  fire  until  the  dusk  of  the 
evening,  when,  being  silenced  by  the  guns  of  fort  Mo- 
reau,  under  colonel  M.  Smith,  and  of  forts  Brown  ami 
Scott,  he  retired  within  the  town,  and  at  9  at  night  sen 
off  his  artillery,  and  all  the  baggage  for  which  he  couW 
obtain  transport.  About  midnight  lie  uiaut:  a  ais^racuiui 
and  precipitate  retreat,  leaving  behind  him  all  his  sieK 


325 

and  wounded,  with  a  request  that  thev  might  be  «en«- 
roualy  treated  by  general  Macomb.  A  t  day-break  of  the 
12th,  this  moveinent  being  discovf  red  by  that  officer,  he 
immediately  despatched  his  light  troops,  and  the  volun- 
teers and  mihtia,  in  pursuit.  The  enemy,  however,  had 
retired  with  such  celerity,  as  to  reach  Chazy  before  th© 
pursuit  was  comine.iced,  and  a  violent  storm  prevented 
Its  continuance.  Immense  quantities  of  provisions,  bomb- 
shells, cannon  balls,  grape-shot,  ammunition,  flints,  ia- 
trenchmg  tools,  tents  and  marquees  were  taken,  and  up- 
wards ot  400  deserters  surrendered  themselves  in  the 
course  of  the  day.  Besides  these,  sir  George  lost  76  pri- 
soners,  and  as  nearly  as  could  be  ascertained,  about  1,500 
killed  and  wounded ;  among  them  several  officers  of  rank, 
ihe  loss  of  the  American  army,  which,  with  the  acces- 
sion of  the  volunteers  and  militia,  did  not  exceed  2,600 
men,  amounted  to  37  killed,  62  wounded,  and  20  missing . 

tor  the  gallantry  which  they  displayed  in  this  splendid 
engagement,  general  Macomb;  lieutenant  colonel  A  po- 
ling; majors  Wooll,  of  the  29th,  and  Totten,of  the  enn- 
neers,  whose  services  were  eminently  conspicuous  in 
he  construction  of  the  works,  and  captain  Brooks,  of 
the  artjllery,  received  the  brevet  rank  of  the  grades  next 
above  those  which  they  held  on  the  day  of  the  action. 
Captain  Youngs,  df  the  16th,  had  been  put  on  board  the 
squadron  with  a  detachment  of  infaniry  to  set  as  marines  • 
and  for  his  coolness  and  intrepidity,  in  a  species  of  ser' 
vice  distinct  from  that  to  which  he  was  attached,  was  also 
breveted  Captain  Grosvenor,  of  the  infantry,  and  the 
brigade  major,  lieutenant  Duncan,  of  the  artillery  were 
conspicuous  for  their  zeal  and  activity  throu^^hout  the  en- 
engagement;  the  latter  was  charged  with  the  delivery  of 
the  despatches  to  the  war  department.  Promotions  took 
place  also  m  the  navy,  and  commodore  Macdonough  was 
immediately  elevated  to  the  rank  of  post  captain. 

J  he  invest  ^ent  of  fort  Erie  was  all  this  time  continued: 
Hie  troops  of  the  garrison  were  actively  engaged  in  the 
completion  of  the  bastions  and  of  the  abattis  on  the 
right  flank  ;  and  the  besiegers  employed  in  the  erection 
ot  additional  batteries  intended  to  enfilade  the  western 
Jamparts  of  the  American  works.  Genera!  Brown  had 
returned  to  the  post,  and  resumed  the  cominand' of  *the 
army,  which  had  been  in  the  mean  time  reinforced  by 


326 

n«w  levle*  <jf  militia.    About  the  mlMIe  of  September, 
X  the.:  arrangement,  were  completed,  an  at  e«,.  to 

dislodge  the  en«my  from  Mb  ^»^^«f  »^i^,^'^"' !";!« 
Si'prive  him  of  the  means  of  annoying  ^« /f '^^«^";  J" 
SeLulned  on.  A  sortie  was  planned,  «»^  ^^^^^"^^iXl- 
«f  the  17th  appointed  for  its  execution.  Li<  utenanls  nai 
T:XZ,  of  the  "*  W.nt,2^^^h»d.-«yoP«njj* 
>  road  from  the  southern  angle  of  «>•  gjf"""  .'/"^h 
within  pistol  shot  of  the  enemy's  nght  «>"8'  ""^  ^ 
ILeh  .eSrecy,  th«t  it  was  not  discovered  «nt.|th«aclad 

,s.ault  commenced.  About  noon  tt.e  "S"'''''^'  ™^ 
»nd  riflemen,  and  the  volunteers  »"?,■"»"  J'/*","'  '2, 
dlness  to  march ;  and  l>efore  two  o'clock  he  -o"  «  «^ 
made.  The  division  issuinn  from  the  'f^  "»" Z;™. 
manded  by  general  Porter  mi  '"'"PT.'' "'  *^„"/  ^ 
men  and  a  few  Indians,  under  colonel  Gibaon,  ami  i»" 
folunms   the   right  commanded  by   lieutenant  coo ,  I 

WooTan^lbe  '««  "y  brigadier  I!™'™'  »»''^'J  „ 
•M„«,  v,.rk    inilitia.      These   columns  were  conuutico 
ftroul  the  woods  by  lieatenants  Riddle  and  Fra^er.and 
S^rached  ;.on  tli  enemy's.  »- ''«S/l''J^, S"-! 

£",r  «a«:^:s.  nTs"  3  t:rtT^ 

stormed  and  after  thirty  minutes  close  a^o".  b»'*  "^ 
S^r  Colonel  Gibson  and  lieutenant  coonel  Wood,  Wl 
it  the  head  of  their  columns,  almost  at  Uw  onset,  ana 
1  respective  commands  devolved  upon  Teutenant  cl. 
M'Doiiald  and  major  Brooks.  a„,sal30 

A  block  iiousc  in  the  rear  of  bat  ery  No.  ^«»««™ 
oarried    and  its  a;arrison   made   prisoners.     Three  ^ 
Ptrs\„d  thir  --^-..-rh/Z?rict  e— 
rovSona»:  ^X^t^A  do... 
Td  'nto  the  magazine,  and,  firstuking  on  a  quanl.    ^ 
fixeiammunition,  set  fire  to  a  tram  '«-<''»S  ^'/^^  ,7h 
barrels  of  powder.    The  explosion  took  Pl»««  "" 
ao^ner  than'the  lieutenant  expected,  and  nut  be^ng  -bte 
to  escape  in  time,  he  was  covered  "'*  *!  """e  w«> 
bles  »n.l  fragments  of  the  magazine,  fr»f  jj"  «^^^  J„t 
extrUaled  with  the  utmost  difhculty.^  i' .'".I'lTwhict 
this  explosion,  the  rigUl  uivis.on  u.   "-^"r'-f-rt  an* 
had  been  stationed  in  the  ravine  betwe»  *«  J"^^^ 
♦he  enemy's  works,  tmder  general  MiUer,  witu  oru 


3S7 


1 


irot  to  attack  until  general  Porter  had  enRftRed  the  enii* 
my '8  right  flank,  first  came  up   to  the  aHsault,  and  in 
co-operation  with  colonel  Gibson's  column,  pierced  the 
British  intrer  chments  between  their  batteries  Nos  2  and 
3,  and  after  a  severe  contest,  carried  the  former.    In 
Uiis  assault,  brigadier  general  Davis,  of  the  New  York 
militia,  fell  at  the   head  of  his  corps.     The  enemy's 
second    blockhouse,  his    batteries    2   and    3,  and    his 
unfinished   battery  No.  4,  with   the  intervening  breast- 
works  and  Intreuchments,   being  now  all    in  the  pot- 
session    of  the    Americans,  general    Miller's    division 
inclined  towards  the  river    with  a  view   to  assail    his 
battery  No.  1,  erected  at  the  extremity  of  his  left  flank. 
At  this  point  the  enemy  made  a  much  holder  and  more 
obstinate   resistance.      There   his    defences  were  con- 
structed with  the   most  studied  intricacy;  breastworks 
had  been  thrown  up  connecting  his  first  and  second  bat- 
tery ;  successive  lines  of  intrenchments  intersected  each 
other  for  nearly  a  hundred  yards  in  their  rear;  and  rows 
ofabattisand  timber  planted  in  multiplied  involutions 
formed  impediments  to  the  approach  of  the  assailants' 
produced  some  confusion  in  the  column,  and  made  con- 
stant appeals  to  the  bayonet  necessary.     Before  general 
Miller  attempted  this  movement  upon  the  battery  near 
the  water,  general  Brown  had  ordered  up  general  Ripley 
with  the  reserve,  comprised  of  the  21  st  regiment,  under 
lieutenant  colonel  Upham,and  desired  him,  as  the  senior 
officer  in  advance,  to  ascertain  the  general  situation  of 
the  troops,  and   to   withdraw   them  from  the   enemy's 
works,  as  soon  as  the  object  of  the  sortie,  the  destruc- 
tion of  his  batteries,  was  effecled.     The  reserve,  in  obe- 
dience to  this  order,  promptly  advanced  to  the  support 
of  Miller's  column,  and  came  into  the  engagement  as  the 
enemy's  force  was  strengthened  from  his  encampment. 
This  column  was  composed  of  the  9th,  the  Uth,  and 
part  of  the  19th  infantry;  the  first  being  commanded  by 
lieutenant  colonel  Aspinwall,  who  lo8<    his  left  arm  in 
the  assault ;  and  the  last,  by  major  Trimble,  who  was 
(latigerously  shot  through  the  body.     Under  the  immedi- 
ate direction  of  the  same  gallant  leader  who  had  carried 
he  cannon,  upon  the  ejnsnence  at  Lundy's  lane,  and  aided 
<by  lieutenant  r.olnnfti  i I nti}4 in    ivWh  fli<^  oicf  ».wi  .....^  ..« 

Ff 


^  3^8 

Uie  17th,  it  made  a  rapid  charjs;©  upon,  and  stormed  iU 
remaining  battery,  which  was  instantly  abandoned  by  the 
British  infantry  and  artillery     General  Ripley  then  or- 
de'-ed  a  line  to  be  formed  in  front,  for  the  protection  of 
the  detachments,  engaged  in  spiUing  the  eneiiiy's  guns, 
and  demolishirtg  the  captured  works.    This  line  he  de- 
termined  also  to  strengthen,  in  order  to  annoy  the  rear 
of  general  Drummond's  retreating  forces,  and  was  m 
the  act  of  forwarding  these  arrangements,  when  he  re- 
ceived a  dangerous  wound  in  th«  neck,  aiul  fell  by  the 
Bide  of  major  Brook,  of  the  23d,  whose  command  was 
at  that  moment  engaged  with  a  detachment  on  the  ene- 
snv's  right.     His  aid,  lieutenant  Kirby,  «a"8«'^^ ''"^^  ^^  ^^ 
Amoved  to  the  garrison,  and  general  M.ller  having  or- 
dered  the  right  wing  to  fall  back,  the  troops  upon  ^he  lef 
were  shortly  after^  recalled,  and  the  operations  ceased 
with  the  accomplishment  of  all  the  objects  of  the  sortie. 
The  troops  then  returned  to  the  garnson,  with  tneir 
prisoners,  and  many  trophies  of  thejr  valour  ;  and,  on 
the  third  day  after,  lieutenant  general  Drurnmond,  who 
had  been  joined  before  the  sortie  by   m^iors  general  De 
Watteville  and  Stovin,  broke  up  his  encampment,  raised 
the  siege,  and  hastily  retired  upon  fort  George  '  In  addi- 
tion to  the  loss  of  nearly  all  his  cannon,  his  force  was 
again  reduced  at  least  1,000  men  ;  and,  notwithstanding 
the  results  of  forty-seven  days  incessant  labour,  were  de- 
stroyed, and  11  of  his  officers,  and  374  of  his  noii-com- 
missioned  officers  and  privates  made  prisoners,  and  trans- 
ferred to  the  American  shore,  he  called  the  event  a  re- 
oulse  of  an  American  arm>  of  6,000  men,  by  an  mcou- 
fiiderable  number  of  British  troops.    Including  the  names 
already  mentioned,  general  Brown's  array  lost  10  officers 
and  70  men  kiiled  ;  24  officers  and   100  wounded ;  and 
10  officers  and  206  misusing- in  all  610. 

Not  long  after  the  enemy  had  been  thus  compe  led  to 
raise  the  seige  of  fort  Erie,  the  garrison  was  enlarged 
by  the  arrival  of  the  right  division  under  major 
ceneral  Izard,  who  superceded  general  Brown  in  the 
command  of  the  army.  H^he  accession  of  this  rivision, 
and  the  strength  of  the  defences,  which  were  ah  by  this 
time  entire,  and  .ome  of  them  garnished  with  heavy  can- 
non' rendered  fo^t  Erie  impregnable  to  the  attacks  of 


l»!l^^^  > 


329 


huy  other  than  a  vastly  superior  force  ;  and  the  month, 
intt)rvening  between  the  17th  of  September  and  the  18th 
of  October,  was  constantly  employed  in  drilHng,  and 
harmonizing  the  discipline  of  the  two  wings  of  the  army. 
In  Ihe  neighbourhood  of  Cook's  Mills  at  Lyon's  creek, 
a  branch  of  the  Chippewa,  it  was  understood  that  quan- 
tities of  provisio()s  were  deposited  for  (he  use  of  the 
British  troops,  and  general  Izard  directed  general  Bis- 
sel,  conimanding  the  2d  brigade  of  the  1st  division,  to 
march  thither  and  seixe  them.  On  the  18th  he  proceeded 
on  the  expedition,  and  after  driving  in  a  pi('(|uet  guard, 
and   capturing  its  commanding  oflficer,  he  threw   two 
light  companies,  under  captain  Dorman,  of  the  6th,  and 
lieutenant  Morrell,  of  the  16th  infantry,  and  a  company 
of  rillemen  under  captain  Irvine,  across  Lyon's  creek, 
and  encamped  for  the  night,  with  picquet  guards  stationed 
at  proper  distances.     One  of  these  commanded  by  lieu- 
tenant Gassaway,  and  stationed  on  the  Chippewa  road, 
was  attacked  by  two  companies  of  the  Olengary  light  in- 
fantry, which  were  beat  off  with  loss.     On  the  following 
morning  the  brigade  was  attacked  by  a  force  of  1,200 
men,  under  colonel  the  marquis  of  Tweedale.     Captain 
Dorman's  infantry,  and  Irvine's  riflemen,  received  the 
first  fire  of  the  enemy,  and  sustained  it  with  the  greatest 
gallantry,  whilst  general  Bissel  was  forming  and  bringing 
up  the  other  troops  to  their  support      Colonel  Pinckney, 
with  the  5th  regiment,  was  ordered  to  turn  the  enemy's 
right  flank,  and  to  cut  off  a  piece  of  artillery  which  he 
had  just  then  brought  into  aution,  whilst  major  Barnard^ 
with  the    14th,  was  to  charge  them  \r  front.     These 
movements  were  instantly  effected.     The  enemy's  left 
flank  and  his  centre  sunk  under  the  firf  of  corps  d'dite, 
and  the  riflemen,  and  the  charge  of  the  14th;  and  his 
right  flank  was  turned  immediately  after  by  the  rapid  a^d 
forcible  movement  of  the  6th.   'I'he  recoil  of  his  line,  and 
the  approach  of  the  American  reserve,  composed  of  the 
15th,  under  major  Grindage,  and  the  16th,  under  colonel 
Pearce,  to  enforce  the  success  of  the  main  body,  was  no 
sooner  perceived  by  the  marquis,  than  he  ordered  his 
troops  to  retire  from  the  ground  on  which  they  had  en- 
gaged genera!  Bissell ;  and,  expecting  to  draw  that  offi- 
cer after  him,  fell  back  to  his  fortifications  at  the  mouth 
of  the  river.    A$  his  retreat  was  made  witliout  much  re- 


%  -vi 


lu 


,M:?i 


.'i:  %: 


!'  1^ 


330 


•if^  I J 


gard  to  order,  all  his  killed,  and  most  of  his  wounded, 
were  left  behind.  He  was  pursued  but  a  small  distance, 
when  gen.  Bissell,  in  conformity  to  his  instructions,  de- 
stroyed the  provisions  at  the  Mills,  and  returned  to  his 
position  at  Black  creek,  having  effected  the  object  of  his 
expedition,   with  the  loss  of  67  killed,  wounded  and 

missing. 

The  whole  army,  with  the  exception  of  lieutenant  co- 
lonel Hindman's  artillery,  to  whom  the  command  of  fort 
Erie,  and  the  works,  was  entrusted,  was  now  operating 
in  the  vicinity  of  Black  creek  and  Chippewa.    Its  staff 
had  been  reduced  by  the  removal  of  general  Ripley  to 
the  American  shore  after  being  wounded,  and  the  trans- 
fer of  general  Brown  to  Sackett's  Harbour,  and  of  general 
Miller  to  Boston.     Immediately  after  the  repulse  of  the 
marquis  of  Tweedale,  general  Izard  directed  its  return  to 
the  garrison,  whence,  as  the  weather  was  about  this  time 
setting  in  extremely  cold,  and  the  season  having  arrived 
wheri  hostilities  usually  ceased,  it  was  determined  to 
transport  it  to  the  American  shore,  to  supply  the  troops 
with  more  comfortable  winter  quarters.     The  fort  was 
accordingly  destroyed,  and  all  the  batteries  demolished, 
and"  after  a  vigorous  and   brilliant  campaign   of  four 
months,  tho  Canadian  territory  was  evacuated,  and  the 
army   distributed  in  quarters   at  Buffaloe,  Black  Rock, 
and  Batavia.  The  volunteers  and  militia  were  discharged 
with  the  thanks  of  the  government,  and  general  Porter 
received  various  testimonies  of  approbation  and  applause 
from  the  state  to  which  he  belonged,  for  his  constant  dis- 
play of  bravery,  and  the  high  degree  of  discipline  which 
he  maintained  in  his  command. 

Whilst  these  events  were  transpiring  between  tlie 
northern  army,  and  the  armies  of  lieutenant  general 
Drummond  and  sir  George  Prevost,  an  expedition  had 
been  fitted  out  in  the  north-western  country,  under  the 
united  command  of  commodore  Sinclair,  with  the  fleet 
upon  lake  Erie,  and  lieutenant  colonel  Croghan,  with  a 
detachment  of  artillery  and  infantry,  to  act  against  the 
fort  and  island  of  Michilimackinac.  But  the  expedition 
failed,  notwithstanding  the  skill  and  gallantry  of  the  oth- 
cers  engaged  in  it;  and  the  troops  retired  from  the  island, 
after  having  effected  a  landing,  with  the  loss  of  the  second 
officer,  major  Holmes,  of  the  32d  infantry.  The  enemy  ap 


•f-     \i 


331 


prized  of  the  movement,  appeared  in  lai^e  numbers  to  re^ 
sisl  it,  and  being  protected  by  breastworlcs,  and  aided  b^* 
a  body  of  Indians,  exceeding  the  strength  of  col.  Croghan's 
detachment,  that  intrepid  young  offiw,r  was  compelled  t* 
wilhdt  ',v  his  forces,  and  return  to  the  shipping.  On  his 
way  to  the  island,  however,  he  destroyed  the  fort  St*. 
Joseph's,  and  the  enemy's  establishment  at  Sault  St. 
Mary's.  The  loss  of  the  detacliment  in  the  e&pedition, 
amounted  to  66,  killed,  wounded  and  missing. 

After  leaving  the  island,  commodore  Sinclair  stationed- 
two  of  his  schooners,  the  Tigress  and  Scorpion,  near  St. 
Joseph's,  to  cut  off  all  supplies  for  the  British  garrison 
at  Michilimackinac.  Lieutenant  colonel  M'Dowall,  the 
commandant  of  that  garrison,  supjilied  lieutenant  Wors- 
ley,  of  the  navy,  with  250  Indians,  and  a  detachment  of 
the  Newfoundland  regiment,  with  whom,  and  150  sailors, , 
he  attacked  the  schooners  on  the  9th  of  September.— 
After  a  severe  struggle,  in  which  he  lost  a  very  dispro- 
portionate number  of  killed  and  wounded,  he  carried  the 
vessels,  and  proceeded  with  them  to  Michilimackinac. 

On  the  22d  of  the  following  month,  brigadier  general 
M' Arthur,  having  collected  720  effective  regulars  and  mi- 
litia, proceeded  on  a  secret  expedition,  along  the  west- 
ern shore  of  lake  vSt.  Clair,  and  passed  into  the  Oana<Iian 
territory,  at  the  mouth  of  that  water.  He  penetrated 
two  hundred  rades  in  the  enemy's  country  ;  destroyed 
more  than  that  number  of  muskets ;  attacked  a  large 
body  of  militia  and  Indians,  encamped  on  favorable 
ground ;  made  about  1 50  prisoners ;  and  dispersed  all 
the  detachments  to  be  found  at  the  Thames,  Oxford,  or 
Grand  River.  During  the  march,  he  principally  subsisted 
on  the  enemy,  and  fired  several  of  the  mills,  from  which 
the  British  troops  in  Upper  Canada  were  supplied  with 
food.  Having  gained  intelligence  of  the  evacuation  of  fort 
Erie,  he  abandoned  his  intention  of  proceeding  to  Bur- 
lington Heights,  and  returned  to  Detroit  on  the  1 7th  of 
November.  By  this  rapid  expedition,  the  enemy^s  hos- 
tile intentions  were  diverted  from  another  quarter,  and 
his  means  of  attacking  Detroit  entirely  crippled  ;  the  de- 
struction of  his  svppUes  rendering  such  an  ettempt  altoge-^ 
^er  impracticable. 

Ff2 


ifi|^-if  M#*ii. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 


Repeated  Engagements,  Ifetneen  the  Gun-Bocd  Flotilla 
and  the  British  vessels  in  the  Patuxent—Bladensburg-^ 
Capture  of  Washington— Of  Jlexandna— Death  of  Sir 
Peter  Parker— Mtack  upm  Baltinwre— Death  of  Gene- 
ral Ross,  and  repulse  of  his  drmy— Blockade  and 
Siege  of  New  Orleans— Defeat  of  the  British  forces 
ihSe— Termination  of  the  War,  by  a  Treaty  of  Peace 
and  Amity  negociated  at  Ghent,  , 

THE  movements  of  the  British  blockading  squad- 
rons, on  the  eastern  coast,  during  the  summer  of  1814, 
have  already  been  traced,  to  the  occupatfon  of  Eastport 
and  Castine,  in  the  beginning  of  September.     In  their 
operations  along  the  shores  of  the  Chesapeake  bay,  and 
the  southern  coast,  they  have  not  been  followed  beyond 
their  attack  upon  Hampton  and  Ocracock,  in  the  month 
of  June.     At  that  period,  a  flotilla,  consisting  of  a  cutter, 
two  gun-boats,  a  galley,  and  nine  large  barges,  sailed  from 
Baltimore,  under  commodore  Barney,  for  the  protection  of 
the  inlets  and  harbours  in  the  several  parts  of  the  bay.  On 
the  1st  June,  being  at  the  mouth  of  the  Patuxent,  the  coua- 
modore  discovered  two  schooners,  one  of  which  carried 
18  guns,  and  immediately  gave  chase.  The  schooners  were 
joined,  however,    by  a  large   ship,   which  despatched 
members  of  barges  to  their  assistance,  and  the  cc«jflmo- 
dore,  in  danger  of  being  cut  off  fiom  the  Potomac,  sig- 
naled his  flotilla  to  sail  up  the  Patuxent.     In  that  river, 
he  engaged  the  schooners  and  the  barges,  and  after  beat- 
ing them  off  with  hot  shot,  he  anchored  wi*hM^  three 
miles  of  a  74,  stationed  at  its  mouth.    In  the  course  oi* 
a  few  days  the  enemy  was  reinforced  by  a  raxee  and  a 
aloop  of  war,  and  joining  the  barges  of  these  vessels,  t© 
those  with  which  they  had  already  engaged  commodore 
Barney,  they  followed  lut  fiotiUa  iato  St.  Leoaard'^ 


3SS 

creek,  two  miles  above  the  mouth  of  which  his  guif 
boats  and  barges  were  formed  in  line  of  battle,  across'^  the 
channel.  From  this  point  the  commodore  engaged  them, 
and  seeing  a  disposition  to  fall  back,  he  immediately  bore 
down,  put  them  to  flight,  and  pursued  them  to  within  a 
short  distance  of  their  shipping,  which  consisted  of  a 
ship,  a  brig,  and  two  schooners.  In  the  afternoon  of  the 
10th,  the  enemy  made  another  attempt  upon  the  flotilla, 
with  twenty  barges,  and  the  two  schooners.  The  com- 
modore immediately  moved  upon  them,  and  after  a  smart 
fire,  drove  the  barges  down  to  the  J  8  gun  vessel,  which, 
in  attempting  to  beat  out,  was  so  severely  handled,  that 
her  crew  ran  her  aground  and  abandoned  her. 

These  attempts  upon  the  flotilla  were  constantly  re- 
peated, and  its  blockade  in  St.  Leonard's  continued  until 
the  26th,  on  the  morning  of  which  day,  a  combined  at- 
tack of  a  corps  of  artillery,  which  had  been  despatched 
from  Washington  to  its  assistance,  a  deiachment  of  the 
marine  corps,  and  the  flotilla  itself,  was  rrade  upon  the 
whole  squadron,  among  which  were  two  frigates.  The 
action  continued  upwards  of  two  hours,  and  terminated 
in  driving  the  enemy  from  his  anchorage.  His  ships 
stood  down  the  river,  and  commodore  Barney  finding 
the  blockade  raised,  sailed  out  of  St.  Leonard's,  and  pro- 
ceeded up  the  Patuxent. 

The  British  squadron  at  the  different  stations  in  the 
Chesapeake,  were  ^ow  every  day  t-ugmented,  by  arri- 
vals of  transports  and  ships  of  the  line  from  England, 
The  cessation  of  hostilities  which  had  taken  place  in  Eu- 
rope, enabled  the  British  governi -.ent  to  send  out  power- 
ful reinforcements  to  their  fleets  and  armies  already  on 
the  coast,  and  admiral  sir  Alexander  Cochrane  had  been 
despatched  witli  upwau'-  of  thirty  sail,  having  on  board 
an  army  of  several  thousand  men,  under  major  general 
Ross.  This  force  entered  the  Chesapeake  in  the  course 
of  the  summer,  and  between  the  land  and  naval  com- 
manderfa,  aplanof  attack  upon  Washington,  Alexandria, 
and  Baltimore,  was  soon  after  adopted.  A  few  weeks 
before  the  repuf  >  rir  George  Prevost,  at  Plattsburg, 
admiral  Cochre:  ^  pi-  tified  the  secretary  of  state,  of  his 
having  been  caihJf?  >pon,by  the  ^vernor  general,  to  lay 
waste  and  destroy,  all  such  towns  and  dipfricts  upon  the 
coast  as  might  be  found  assailable,  and  that  he  had  ia 


4! 


u 


il  i!! 


'm^ 


^  § 


\    ; 


f 


•  A  * 


^f 


834 

ConaeoueMCe  issued  his  orders  to  that  effect,  t©  all  Uie 
nav  ^  couimttuders  upon  the  station. 
■*  li  thi.  deaoaich  was  forvvaided  with  the  honorable  m- 
tent  of  apprizing  the  American  government  ot  the  con- 
templated attack  upon  the  car/ital,  Uie  object  wan  either 
wZuy,  or  through  negligence,  defeated.--Forprev.ou8- 
Ho  he  receipt  of  this  notice  at  the  department  of  state, 
the  enemy  wa*  already  ascending,  in  two  diV.Bion«  of  his 
fleet,  the  Fntuxent  and  the  Potomac.  In  the  hrst  of 
these  ivers,  his  force  amounted  to  twenty -seven  square- 
^Zllvr^^eh   all  of  which  proceeded  to  Benedict,  the 

Tar'    seamfu  and  marines.     Commodore  Barney  mobe- 
dTence  to  the  ordm-s  which  he  had  received  to   that  ef- 
fec     blew  up  and  abandoned  his  flotilla  "pon  the  ap- 
nmachofsoiM  werfulaforce,  and  retreated  to  Nottmg- 
K  on  the  22d  of  August,  where,  with  his  sean.en  and 
marines,  he  joined  the  United  States'  army,  under  bri-- 
S    ienerai  Winder.    The  enemy   approached  the 
Woo  1  Ya"i,  a  position  twelve  miles  only  from  the  city, 
and  at  vvb.h  general  Winder's  forces  were  drawn  up. 
These  consisted  of  about  6,000  men    2,500  of  whom 
we^  from  Baltimore,  and  offered  battle  to  the  Br.t.sh 
JJoL.-But  general  Ross,  upon    reaching  the   ne.gu- 
bourhood  of  Nottingham,  turned  to  his  right  and  took 
Sie  rca^  *<>  Marlborough,  upon  which  general  Winder 
fell  back  to  Battalion  Old  Fields,  about  eight  rmles  from 
ttie  city.    The  positions  now  occupied  by  the  two  ar- 
Sfes  were  distant  from  each  other  about  seven  mifes ; 
Tnd  general  Winder  desiring  to  know  m  what  manner 
Aey  had  encamped,  rode  with  a  small  escort  to  Marlbo- 
S  and  learned,f;om  several  prisoners  who  were  taken 
S  the  British  general  intended  to  remain  there  until 
Se  following  day      Abontnoon  of  the  23d,  general  Ros 
out  his  troops  in  motion,  having  been  previously  joined 
£v  admiral  Cockburn,  and  was  met  by  the  American  ad- 
vLced  corps,  under  lieut.  colonel  Scott  and  major  Peter, 
IhoX  exchanging  several  rounds,  fell  back  upon  the 
mahlarmy     Sy  on  the  24th,  the  enemy's  column  re- 
t!Lf nfmarch    and  reached  Bladensburg,  about  six 
Xs  filXshington,  without  loss.     At  Bladensburg. 
fetra^^StLsbury  L\  taken  an  advantageous  position 
K  the^reatest  exertion  geuer^l  Wiad«r  waa  euabted 


■>»■ 


ott  t(»  all  lUe 


335 

td  interpose  his  whole  fc  ce  before  the  enemy,  incl(f<fiMg 
commodore  Barney's  flotilla  men  and  marines.  At  one, 
P.  M.  the  action  commenced  :  The  Baltimore  artillery, 
under  captains  Myers  and  Macgruder,  supported  by 
mtyor  Pinkney's  riflemen,  were  stationed  in  advance 
to  command  the  pass  »f  the  bridge,  and  dealt  out 
a  very  destructive  fire.  But  the  British  column  advan- 
ced upon  them  in  such  superior  force,  that  they  were 
obliged  to  retire.  Upon  seeing  this,  the  right  rnd 
centre  of  general  Stansbury's  brigade,  immediately  gave 
way,  and  in  a  few  minutes  he  was  deserted  by  his  whole 
command,  except  about  40  men  of  colonel  Ragnn's  regi- 
ment, and  captain  Shower's  company.  The  6th  Balti- 
more regiment,  under  colonel  Sterret,  stationed  on  the 
left  of  general  Stansbury's  brigade,  maintained  its  ground, 
until,  lest  it  should  be  outflanked,  an  order  was  given 
for  its  retreat.  The  reserve,  unler  brigadier  general 
Smith,  of  the  District  of  Columbia,  with  commodore 
Barney  and  lieutenant  colonel  Beall  on  their  right,  still 
remained  upon  the  hill,  and  continued  the  contest  after 
the  flight  of  the  Maryland  brigade.  As  the  militia  re- 
tired, the  British  regulars  advanced  upon  the  main  road, 
and  coming  immediately  in  front  of  commodore  Barney's 
flotilla,  he  opened  an  18  pounder  upon  them,  which 
cleared  the  road,  and  for  a  time  disordered  their  column, 
and  retarded  their  approach.  Two  other  attempts  made 
by  the  enemy  to  pass  the  battery  were  also  repulsed,  and 
goni  R(iss  marched  a  division  of  his  troops  into  an  oper^ 
tield,  with  a  determination  to  flank  the  commodore's 
right.  This  attempt  also  was  frustrated  by  captain  Mil- 
ler, of  the  marines,  with  three  12poKnders,  and  the  men 
of  the  flotilla  acting  as  infantry.  After  being  thus  !'cpt  in 
check  about  half  an  hour,  general  Ross  began  to  outflank 
the  right  of  the  battery,  in  large  numbers ;  and  pushed 
about  300  men  upon  general  Smith's  brigade,  which,  af- 
ter exchanging  a  shot  or  two,  fled  as  precipitately  as  the 
brigade  of  general  Stansbury.  In  the  panic  produced  by 
this  disorderly  retreat,  the  drivers  of  the  ammunition 
v/agons  fled  also,  and  commodore  Barney's  small  com- 
mand was  left  to  contend  agninst  the  whole  force  of  the 
enemy,  with  less  than  one  complete  round  of  cartridge. 
To  add  to  the  generaH  misfortune,  and  to  increase  the 
ditficultieg  even  of  retiring  with  credit,  he  had  received  a 


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ftcTere  wound  in  his  thigh,  and  his  horse  had  bcenkUIcd 
under  him— two  of  his  principal  officers  were  kdled,  and 
captain  IVliller  and  sailing  master  MarUn  wounded.  The 
places  of  these  eould  be  promptly  supphed  from  the  men 
actinsr  as  infantry,  but  the  means  of  repulsing  the  enemy 
were  expended,  and  the  British  infantry  and  mannes  by 
this  time  completely  in  the  rear  of  the  battery.  Thus 
Bituated,  the  commodore  gave  orders  for  a  retreat,  and 
after  being  carried  a  short  distance  from  the  scene  of  his 
callantry,  he  fell  exhausted  by  the  loss  of  blood,  and 
was  soon  after  made  prisoner  by  general  Ross  and  ad- 
miral  Cockburn,  who  put  him  on  his  parole,  and  having 
fir^t  removed  him  to  their  hospital  in  Bladensburg,  or- 
dered the  immediate  attendance  of  their  surgeons  to  dress 

his  wound.  .         *  ^i.  e  ,1. 

Having  thus  obtained  possession  of  the  pass  of  the 
•vrMge    r     -  the  eastern  branch  of  the  Potomac,  the  ene- 
my mai'         directly  upon  the  capital,  and  immediately 
oroceedeo  to  the  destruction  of  all  the  spacious  and  splen- 
did edifices  by  which  it  wa«  adorned.  The  senate  house, 
the  representative  hall,  the  supreme  courl  room,  the  presi- 
dent's house,  with  all  its  external  and  interior  decora- 
tions, and  the   buildings   containing  the  public  depart- 
menti    were  very  soon  demolished,  and  several  private 
bouses  burned  to  the  ground.     The  plunder  of  individual 
property    uas   prohibited,  however,  and  soldiers  trans- 
gressing the  order,  were  severely  punished.     T..e  prin- 
cipal ven<'eance  of  admiral  Cockburn,  on  whom,  if  the 
safety  of  the  citizens'  dwellings  had  alone  depended,  if 
he  is  to  be  judged  by  his  former  conduct,  they  would 
have  rested  on  a  slender  guarantee,  was  directed  against 
the  printing  office  of  the  editor  of  a  newspaper,  from 
whose  press  had  been  issued  frequent  accounts  of  the 
admiral's  depredations  along  the  coast. 

The  navy  yard,  as  well  as  a  new  first  rate  frigate,  aiifl 
a  sloop  of  war,  were  destroyed  by  order  of  government, 
upon  the  approach  of  the  enemy,  to  prevent  the  immense 
public  stores,  munitions  and  armaments  deposited  there, 
from  falling  into  his  hands.  The  patent  office  alone,  in 
which  were  collected  the  rarest  specimens  of  the  ails  01 
the  country,  escaped  the  insatiable  vengeance  of  a  toe, 
whose  destroying  arm  was  directed  against  the  n  ost  sii- 
peib  monuments  of  architectural  skill,  and  public  mm- 


33^ 

ficence.  The  public  documents  and  official  records,  thfj 
flags  and  various  other  trophies  of  the  repeated  triiimplis 
of  the  Antjeiican  arms,  and  the  specie  from  all  the  banks 
in  the  District,  had  previously  been  placed  beyond  the 
reach  of  the  cupidity  of  the  invaders,  and  they  returned 
from  an  irruption  which  excited  the  indignation  of  all 
parties  in  the  union,  and  drew  forth  the  deprecations  of 
the  principal  nations  in  Europe. 

The  president  and  the  heads  of  departments,  all  of 
whom  had  visited  the  rendezvous  of  the  troops  iit  Bla- 
densburg  the  day  before  the  battle,  finding  that  (he  force 
which  had  been  hastily  assembled,  did  not  amount  to 
the  number,  called  for  by  the  requis'^'ons  upon  the  adja- 
cent states,  returned  to  the  metropolis  to  make  arrange* 
ments  for  the  augmentation  of  general  Winder's  army. 
This  duty,  which,  in  times  of  less  danger,  required  the 
exercise  of  great  energy,  could  not  be  performed,  before 
the  enemy  had  encountered  and  defeated  the  corps  al- 
ready collected.  The  capture  of  these  officers  would 
have  caused  at  least  a  temporary  derangement  of  the  go- 
vernment, and  in  order  that  its  functions  might  be  re- 
sumed immediately  after  the  departure  of  the  enemy, 
they  retired  from  the  metropolis  upon  his  approach.  Ge- 
nerai  Winder  had  also  withdrawn  with  the  remnant  of 
his  force  to  Montgomery  Courthouse  ;  the  citizens  were 
incapable  of  opposing  the  hostile  operations  of  the  B'-l- 
tish  commanders ;  and  the  capital  was  therefore  entirely 
at  their  mercy. 

That  division  of  the  enemy's  fleet  which  ascended  the 
Potomac,  consisting  of  eight  sail,  upon  which  were 
mounted  173  guns,  and  commanded  by  captain  Gordon, 
V /as  directed  to  attack  the  city  of  Alexandria.  As  they 
approached  up  the  river,  the  commandant  of  fort  War- 
burton,  captain  Dyson,  destroved  that  garrison,  and  re- 
tired with  his  artillerists,  and  the  British  squadron  passed 
up  to  the  city  without  annoyance  or  impediment.  The 
people  of  Alexandria  surrendered  their  town,  and  ob- 
tained a  stipulation  on  the  29t!i  of  August,  from  the  Bri- 
tish commander,  that  their  dwellings  should  not  be  en- 
tered or  destroyed.  The  condition  upon  which  this  sti- 
pulation was  made,  required  the  immediate  delivery  to 
the  enemy,  of  all  public  and  private  naval  and  ordnance 
stores;  of  all  the  shipping,  and  the  furniture  neccissary  t« 


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ihetr  equipment,  then  in  port ;  of  all  the  merchandise  of 
every  descriplioii,  whether  in  the  town,  or  removed  from 
it  sinco  the  10th  of  the  month;  that  such  merchandise 
should  be  mt  on  board  the  shij>ping  at  the  expenst'  of  ,'he 
ownert) ;  «.ud  that  all  vessels  which  might  have  been  sunk 
upon  the  approach  of  the  enemy,  should  be  raised  bv 
the  merchants  and  delivered  up,  with  all  their  apparatus. 
These  hard  and  ungenerous  conditions  were  complied 
with,  and  on  the  0th  of  September,  capt.  Gordon  moved 
oif  with  a  fleet  of  prize  vessels,  which,  as  well  as  his  fri- 
gates and  other  vessels  of  war,  contained  car<i;oe8  of  booty. 
In  descending  the  river  he  was  warmly  opposed,  and  re- 
ceived considerable  damage  from  two  batteri-'s,  at  the 
White  House,  and  at  Indian  Head,  umler  the  r«  spective 
commands  of  captains  Porter  and  Perry,  of  the  navy— 
the  former  assisted  by  general  Hungrrford's  brigade  of 
Virginia  militia  infantry,  and  captain  Humphrey's  com- 
pany of  riflemen,  from  Jefllerson  county  ;  and  the  latter 
by  the  brigade  of  general  Stewart,  and  the  volunteer 
companies  of  major  Peter  and  captain  Birch.  The  bat- 
teries, however,  not  being  completed,  and  mounting  but 
a  few  light  pieces,  could  not  prevent  the  departure  of  the 
enemy  with  his  immense  booty,  though  they  kept  up  an 
incessant  fire,  from  the  3d  until  the  Gth  of  the  month, 
upon  the  vessels  passing  down  on  each  of  those  days. 
Commodore  Uodgers,  too,  aided  by  lieutenant  New- 
combe  and  sailing  master  Ramage,  made  frequent  at- 
tempts to  destroy  (he  enemy's  shipping,  by  approaching 
him  within  the  range  of  muskel  shot,  with  several  small 
fire  vessels.  After  the  communication  of  the  tire,  a 
change  of  wind  prevented  these  vsasels  from  getting  in 
between  the  British  frigates,  though  they  excited  much 
alarm  among  the  fleet,  whose  men  were  actively  em- 
ployed in  extinguyiing  the  flames.  These  respective 
forces  were  afterwards  concentrated,  and  commodore 
Rodgers  took  possession  of  Alexandria,  with  a  determina- 
tion to  defend  it,  notwithstanding  its  surrender,  against 
anotlier  attempt  of  the  enemy,  whose  fleet  was  not  yet 
out  of  sight  from  the  nearest  battery. ' 

After  the  embarkation  of  the  troops  under  general 
Ross,  whose  loss  at  Bladensburg  nearly  amounted  to 
1,000  men,  in  killed,  wounded,  prisoners,  deserters,  and 
those  whd  died  of  fatigue,   admiral  Cochrane  conceu- 


3^9 


tratod  the  \  artous  delachmftnts  of  hin  fleet,  and  raad« 
prefiarationH  for  an  attack  upon  the  city  of  IJaltiinore. 

Despatch  veasels  were  forwanletl  to  all  parts  of  the 
bay,  ral!  together  the  frigatoa  stationed  near  the  dif- 
ferent shores,  and  among  others  the  Menelaiis,  com- 
nmnded  hy  sir  Peter  Parkt^r,  and  then  lying  in  llu;  neiffh- 
boi.rhood  of  Moora-Fiehls.  That  officer,  delennincd  on 
an  tixpodition  against  a  detachment  of  Maryland  volun- 
te«  rs,  encamped,  under  colonel  Head,  at  those  fields 
bel  •'.  he  obeyed  the  call  of  the  admiral ;  and  for  that 
purpose  landed  with  230  men,  and  made  a  detour  to 
surprize  und  cut  it  off.  TIm;  detachment  ('onsisted  of  1 70 
meti;  audits  nimander  being  apprized  of  the  enemy's 
motions,  was  fully  prepared  to  receive  him.  Sir  Peter 
advanced  to  a  charge,  and  being  repulsi-d,  opened  a  firo 
within  pistol  shot,  which  continued  nearly  an  hour.  At 
the  cndgof  that  (ime  his  force  was  d.iven  back,  with  a 
loss  of  17  carried  off,  and  '  ?  killed  and  3  wounded  left, 
upon  the  ground — Among  siie  wounded  was  sir  Prier, 
who  died  immediately  after  l»<ing  put  on  hard  the  IVIe- 
nelaus.  Colonel  Head  had  ;j  men  nlightly  wounded. 
The  IVI(uielau9  joined  the  lleet  upon  the  following  day* 
and  sailed  with  it  to  the  mouth  of  the  Poljipaco,  on  the 
10th  of  September. 

The  lleet  consisted  of  nearly  forty  sail,  ami  the  heavi- 
est vessels,  ships  of  the  line,  anchored  across  the  chan- 
nel, and  commenced  the  (leharludion  of  the  troops,  in- 
tended for  (he  IhikI  attack,  upon  North  PoinI,  twelve 
miles  distant  from  the  city.  By  the  morninf-;  of  (he  12th, 
about  0,000  -iohliers,  sailors,  and  inarines,  were  in  readi- 
ness to  march  upon  the  town,  and  sixteen  bomb  vessels 
and  frigates  proceeded  up  tin?  river,  and  anchored  within 
two  miles  and  an  half  of  Fort  M'Henry. 

This  garrison,  commande<l  by  li(Mi(enant  colonel  Q. 
Armistead,  of  the  United  States'  artillery  ;  a  buttery  at 
(he  lazaretto,  commanded  by  lieu(<;nant  Kutter,  of  (he 
fltUilla;  a  small  work  called  fort  Covington,  by  lieutenant 
Newcome,  of  tlie  Guerriere;  a  six  gun  ba(((!ry,  erected 
near  it,  by  lieutenant  Webster,  of  the  no(i||a  ;  and  lines 
of  iutrenchments,  and  breastworks,  hastily  thrown  up  |)y 
the  people  of  Baltimore,  were  relied  on  for  (he  defence 
ftud  protection  of  the  city. 


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Atttie  forts  and  batteries,  1,000  men  we»  stationed; 
along  the  treastworkb,  about  four  times  that  number— 
and  all  under  command  of  mwor  general  Samuel  Smith, 
assisted  by  brigadier  general  Winder, of  the  United  States* 
army,  and  brigadier  general  Strieker,  of  the  Baltimore 

brigade. 

In  anticipation  of  the  enemy 's  intention  to  land  at  North 
point,  and  to  meet  and  repulse  his  light  parties,  or  to  en- 
gage his  whole  force  at  a  distance  from  the  main  works, 
<^neial  Strieker  was  despatched  with  part  of  his  brigade, 
and  a  light  corps  of  riflemen  and  infantry,  from  general 
Stansbuiy'd  bri^e,  under  major  Randal,  and  several 
companies  of  the  Pennsykania  volunteers.  On  thcS  even- 
ing of  the  nth,  this  detachment,  amouutkigto  3,186  ef- 
fective men,  reached  the  meeting  house,  near  the  head 
of  Bear  creek,  when  the  volunteer  cavalry,  under  co- 
lonel-Biays,  were  sent  three  miles,  and  captaip  Dyer's 
riflemen  two  miles,  in  advance.  Early  on  the  following 
morning,  captain  Montgomery,  with  the  arallery ;  lieu- 
tenant colonel  Sterret,  with  the  6th ;  and  lieutenant  co- 
lonel Long,  with  the  27th  regiments,  were  sent  some 
distance  forward.  The  artillery  was  planted  in  the  mid- 
dle of  the  North  Point  road,  and  supported  on  each  flank 
by  the  two  infantry  regiments.  The  61st  regiment,  un- 
der lieutenant  colonel  Amey,  was  stationed  a  few  hun- 
dred yards  in  the  rear  of  the  6th;  the  39th,  under  lieu- 
tenant colonel  Fowler,  in  the  rear  of  the  27th ;  and  the 
6th,  under  lieutenant  colonel  M'Donald,  drawn  upas  a 
reserve,  half  a  mile  in  the  rear  of  the  whole. 

The  riflemen  were  ordered  to  skirt  a  low  wood,  with 
a  large  sedge  field  in  its  front,  under  cover  of  which,  as 
the  cavalry  fell  back  to  apprize  general  Strieker  of  the 
approach  of  the  enemy,  they  were  to  annoy  the  British 
advance,  and  retire  in  good  order  upon  the  main  body  of 
the  troops  Soon  after  these  dispositions  had  been  made, 
the  cavalry  came  in  with  the  intelligence,  that  the  ene- 
my's light  corps  were  rapidly  advancing  along  the  road, 
and  at  the  moment  when  it  was  expected  they  would  be 
engaged  by  the  riflemen,  that  body  was  seen  falling  back 
without  having  opposed  them,  under  a  presumption  that 
the  enemy  had  landed  at  Back  river,  in  order  to  cut  off 
their  retreat.  The  general  immediately  pushed  forward 
two  companies  from  the  6th  infantry,  160  in  number,  un- 


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der  captaine  LsTering  and  Howard,  arid  commanded  by 
major  Heath,  of  tsiat  regiment;  about  TO  riflemen,  under 
captain  Aisquith  ;  the  cavalry,  and  10  artillerists,  with  a 
4-pounder,  commanded  by  lieutenant  Stiles.     This  de- 
tachment having  ^)roceeded  half  a  mile,  was  met  by,  and 
instantly  engaged,  the  enemy's  main  body.    The  aitna- 
tton  of  the  ground,  would  not  admit  of  the  co-operation  of 
the  artillery  and  cavalry  ;  and  the  infantry  and  riflemen 
sustained  the  whole  action  with  great  gallantry,  pouring 
in  a  rapid  and  effective  fire  upon  the  British  column,  kiC- 
ing  major  general  Ross,  and  several  other  oflicers,  and 
impeding  the  advance  of  the  British  army.    Having  per- 
formed the  duty  required  of  them  by  general  Strieker^  tiie 
whole  detachment,  with  4  trifling  loss,  fell  back  in  ex- 
cellent order  upon  the  American  line.    The«nemy  then 
moved  forward,  under  colonel  Brooke,  upon  whom  the 
command  had  devolved,  and  at  half  past  2  began  to  throw 
his  rockets  upon  the  left  flank  of  the  militia  brigade.  Can- 
lain  Montgomery  immediately  opened  his  artillery  upon 
him,  and  the  British  played  upon  the  left  aud  centre  with 
their  «-poundera  and  a  howitzer.    The  cannonade  con- 
tinued with  great  vivacity,  until  general  Strieker  ordered 
the  firing  to  cease,  so  as  to  draw  the  enemy  within  the 
range  of  grape  and  canister.    Colonel  Brooke  then  co- 
Tered  his  whole  front  with  the  British  light  brigade,  di- 
rected the  4th  regiment,  by  a  detour,  to  gain  a  lodgment 
close  upon  the  American  left ;  and  formed  a  line  along 
general  Strieker's  front,  with  the  41st  regiment,  the  ma- 
rines of  the  fleet,  and  a  detachment  of  seamen ;  and  pla- 
ced the  21st  regiment,  the  2d  battalion  of  marines,  and 
another  detachment  of  seamen,  in  columns  on  the  main 
road,  with  orders  to  press  on  the  American  right,  on  the 
first  opportunity.    General  Strieker,  seeing  that  his  left 
flank  would  be  the  main  object  of  attack,  ordered  up  the 
39th  into  line  on  the  27th,  and  detached  two  pieces  of 
artillery  to  the  extreme  left  of  lieutenant  colonel  Fowler's 
command.    Lieutenant  colonel  Amey  was  also  directed 
to  form  the  61st  at  right  angles,  with  his  right  resting  near 
the  left  of  the  SOth. 

The  whole  force  of  the  enemy  at  that  moment  pressed 
forward,  his  right  column  advancing  upon  the  27th  and 
S9th,  and  attacked  those  regiments  with  great  impetuo- 
sity.   The  6 1  st,  wh«h  waa  ordered  to  open  upon  the  en- 


''ii      . 


% 


'^•' 


«nry  in  liis  attempt  to  turn  the  rest  of  the  line,  deliTered 
a  loose  fire,  immediately  broke,  fled  precipitately  from 
its  ground,  and  in  such  confusion,  that  every  effort  to 
rally  it  proved  ineffectual.  The  2d  battalion  of  the 
39th,  was  thrown  into  disorder,  by  the  flight  of 
the  6l8t,  and  some  of  its  companies  also  gave  way. 
The  remainder  and  the  1st  battalion  stood  firm. 
Thus  abandoned  by  the  retreat  of  the  Slst,  gene- 
mi  Strieker  made  new  arrangements  for  the  reception  of 
the  enemy,  and  opened  a  general  fire  upon  him,  from  the 
light,  left  and  centre.  The  artillery  sent  forth  a  destruc- 
tive tonrent  of  canister  against  the  British  left  column,  then 
attempting  to  gain  the  cover  of  a  small  log  house,  in  front 
of  the  6th  regiment.  Captain  Sadtler,  with  his  yagers 
from  that  regiment,  who  were  posted  in  the  house,  when 
the  British  4th  regiment  was  advancing,  had,  however, 
taken  the  precaution  to  set  fire  to  it,  and  the  intention  of 
the  enemy  was" therefore  defeated.  The  6th  regiment 
then  ypened  its  fire,  and  the  whole  line  entered  into  an 
animated  contest,  which  continued,  with  a  severe  loss  to 
the  enemy,  until  fifteen  minutes  before  4  o'clock.  At 
that  houri  general  Strieker,  having  inflicted  as  much  injury 
upon  the  invaders  as  could  possibly  be  expected,  from  a 
line  now  but  1,400  strong,  against  a  force  amounting, 
notwithstanding  its  losses,  to  at  least  7,000  men,  ordered 
his  brigade  to  retire  upon  the  reserve  regiment;  an 
order  well  executed  by  the  whole  line,  which  in  a 
few  minutes  rallied  upon  lieutenant  colonel  M'Donald. 
From  the  point  occupied  by  this  regiment,  gen.  Strieker, 
in  order  to  refresh  his  troops,  and  prepare  them  for  a  se- 
cond movement  of  the  enemy,  retired  to  a  position  half 
a  mile  in  advance  of  the  left  of  major  general  Smith's  in- 
trenchments.  Here  he  was  joined,  by  general  Winder, 
who,  with  general  Douglass's  Virginia  brigade,  and  the 
United  States'  dragoons,  under  captain  Bird,  took  post 
upon  his  left. 

Whilst  all  these  movements  were  in  operation,  general 
Smith  was  actively  engaged  in  manning  the  trenches  and 
batteries  with  generals  Stansbury's  jand  Foreman's  bri- 
gades, a  detachment  of  seamen  and  marines,  under  com- 
modore Rodgers,  colonels  Cobean  and  Finly's  Pennsyl- 
vania volunteers,  colonel  Harris's  Baltimore  artillery, 
and  the  marine  artillery  under  captain  Stile^.     Colonel 


;f 


Brooke  did  not  ftdvance  with  his  columns  further  thai* 
the  ground  on  which  general  Strieker  had  been  previously 

fcarly  on  the  following  morning,  he  received  a  communi- 
cation-from  admiral  Cochrane,  that  the  frigates   bomb 

te^^J^f '  "'!f.^^^'.  ^^"'^  ''"^^  theifst'^ionrt^ 
bombard  the  town  and  fort,  in  the  course  of  the  mominS^ 

At  daybreak  of  the  13th,  the  land  forces,  therefore.^ 

ward  of  the  mtrenchments.  The  day  was  chiefly  em- 
ployed in  manoBuvrfng  by  both  parties:  Colonel  Brooke 
frequently  attempting  to  make  a  detour  through  tbfcoun 
try  to  the  Harford  and  York  roads ;  and  g~S.  WiX 
and  Stncker  adapting  their  movements  to  those  of  the 
enemy,  the  better  to  frustrate  his  designs.  At  noon  Z 
British  columns  were  concentrated,  dLctly  in  ?ro„t  of 
the  Amencan  hne,  and  colonel  Brooke  advanced  lo  w  th- 
m  a  mile  of  the  works,  drove  in  the  outpostsrand  made 

amJSlf.?  ^"'    ^  ^"'^'?  ^'  ~S»^*-     Generals  wrder 
and  Strieker  were  then  ordered  to  station  themselvei  oa 
the  enemy  »8  right,  and  in  the  event  of  an  attack  unonih^ 
breastworks,  to  fall  upon  that  fJ...K,  or  on  hhl^^r  Tl^e 
assault  was  not  made,  however,  and  the  enemyTproba! 
biythinkmg  he  would  be  outflanked,  ami  haZg  disco- 
vered the  strength  of  the  defences,  withdrew  from  Ws 
position  m  the  coarse  of  the  night,  and  re-embaS  hk 
troops  in  the  evening  of  the  Hth.    His  retreat  wa^  not 
discovered  until  break  of  that  day,  in  conseqoencI^Z 
darkness  of  the  iright;  and  though  a  heavy  faS  of  rlia 
continued  throughout  the  morning,  general  V/inder  wHh 
vvI'^h'-Th:'  '"^  the  Virginia  IniUtia;  major^'nda, 
vvith  his  light  corps,  and  the  whole  militia  and  cavalry 
were  sent  m  pursuit.  The  excessive  fatigue  of  the  troopT 

n  fu^'^T.  ^.*1  ^'^"  ^^'"^^  ^^3^^  ^«d  °'gh*«  under  arms 
n  the  mofet  ihclement  weather,  pr.ventedT  their  annoZg 
heenemy  8  rear  with  much  effect,  and  they  made  prisoner! 
>fnonebut8tragglersfromhisarmy.  AttLmomSnt S ' 
o  .Brooke  advanced  along  the  Philadelphia  road  thefri- 
.^tes  and  bomb  ships  of  the  fleet,  approached  wml  shS 
ig  distance  of  the  fort.  Col.  Armistead  had  already  Sispos- 
^his  force  to  maintain  the  cannonade  with  vigourra  ^m- 
W  of  regular  artUtery,  under  captain  Et««?  j  alfd  a«^ 


tZ 


M 


m 


m 


M 


ther  of  volunteer  artillery,   under  captain  Nicholson, 
manned  the  bastions  in  the  Star  fort ;  captains  Bunbury 
and  Addison*8  sea  fencibles,  and  captain  Berry's    and 
Ifetttcnant  Pennington's  artillery,  were  stationed  at  the 
water  batteries ;  and  about  600  infantry,  under  lieute- 
nant colonel  btewart,  and  major  Lane,  were  plac^^  in 
the  outer  ditch,  to  repulse  an  attempt  to  land.    Ihe  nom- 
bardment  commenced.    All  the  batteries  were  immedi- 
ately op"  Bed  upon  the  enemy,  but  the  shot  ff  "gvery 
far  short  of  his  vessels,  the  tiring  ceased  from  the  fort,  or 
was  maintained  only  at  intervals,  to  show  that  the  garrison 
iTad  not  sunk  under  the  tremendous  showers,  of  rocke  s 
and  shells,  incessantly  thrown  into  the  batteries.     Ihus- 
situatT without  the  power  of  retaliating  the  attack  of 
the  enemy,  colonel  Armistead  and  his  brave  men  en- 
dured  Uieir  moxtification  with  an  unyielding  spirit,  during 
the  whole  bombardment,  which  continued  until  seven 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  I4th.     Under  cover  of  the 
niffht  the  British  commanders  despatched  a  fleet  ot  barges 
?o  atlia.  and  storm  fort  Covington.-The  attempt  was  re- 
milsed,  however,  and  the  assailants  retired    with  an  im- 
mense loss,  to  their  bomb  vessels,  and  on  the  morning  of 
Wednesday,  the  whole  stood  down  the  nver,  and  re- 
Jline     admiral  Cochrane's  fleet.    The  loss  m  the  fort 
imoimted  to  4  killed,  and  24  wounded  :  among  the  killed 
were  two  gallant  young  volunteer  officers,  lieutenants 
Claciret  and  Clem.     The  entire  loss  of  the  enemy  has 
no'  vet  been  ascertained.     That  of  the  Americans  on  the 
fiekl  of  l>attle  did  not  fall  short  of  150,  which   bemg  ad- 
ded to  the  killed  and  wounded  in  the  fort,  makes  a  tota 
of    78      The  invaders  having  thus  retired  from  wha{ 
thcv  called  a  demonstration  upon  ^    Almore,  the  safety 
ofThe  citizens  was  secured,  and  the  different  corps  wen 

relieved  from  further  duty.  t.    .    -i    k 

The  plan  of  operations,  however,  which  had  beei 
adopted  by  the  British  cabinet,  to  destroy  and  lay  wast 
the  Sci4l  towns  and  commercial  cities,  assailable  e 
ther  by  th^^r  ..nd  or  naval  forces,  was  not  to  be  abandoi 
ed  because  of  this  repulse,  gallant  and  effective  as 
was  The  cities  of  Charleston,  Savannah,  Baltimor 
and*  Washington,  were  destined  ta  be  burnt  and  plu, 
Uercd;  and  New  Orleans,  the  great  emr^rium  of  all  t 
wealth  and  treasure  of  the  western  states,  wcs  to  n 


seissed,  and  hold  as  a  colony  of  Great  Brilaio.    ThefalP 
ure  of  her  arms,  in  an  assault  upon  either  of  the««e  places 
tvas  not  to  prevent  an  attack  upon  another,  no  matter 
what  the  slaughter  ;  and  the  separate  commanders  Were 
directed  to  concentrate  their  forces,  or  draw  from  the 
Bermudas  such  an  augmentation  as  should  be  necessarr 
and  m  the  event  of  successive  repulses  upon  other  ob- 
jects, to  bend  all  their  strength  against  the  city  of  New 
Orleans,  and  its  defences  on  the  Mississippi.     At  the 
Bermudas,  a  powerful  and  well  appointed  fleet  and  army 
was,  for  this  purpose,  collected, and  their  arrival  upon  the' 
southern  coast  daily  anticipated.     Admiral  Cochrane  had 
in  the  mean  time  directed  a  smaller  squadron  of  vessels 
then  fittmg  cut  at  Pensacola,  in  the  territory  of  a  neigh- 
bonng  nation  with  whom  .the  United  States  were  at  the 
same  mcment  at  peace,  for  an  expedition  against  some 
of  the  defences,  by  which  the  entrance  to  New  Orleans 
was  protected,  to  make  the  earliest  preparation  for  an 
assault  upon  FortBowyer,  a  garrison  situated  at  a  point 
called  Mobile.     In  the  early  part  of  September,  this 
squadron,  consisting  of  two  sloops  of  war,  and  two  gun 
brigs,  mounting  in  all  ninety  guns,  and  commanded  by 
captain  Percy,  was  already  on  its  way  to  the  intended 
attack.     On  the  12tli  of  that  month  captain  Percy  came 
within  sight  of  the  fort,  landed  upwards  of  700  Indians 
and  marines  in  its  rear,  where,  within  a  small  distance  of 
the  garrison  they  erected  a  land  battery,  and  towards  the 
evening  of  the  15th,  the  assault  commenced  with  a  can- 
nonade and  bombardment.     The  fort  was  commanded 
by  major  Lawrence,  of  the  2d  infantry,  mounted  twenty   ' 
pieces  of  cannon,  moat  of  them  of  small  calibre,  and  w^ 
garrisoned  by  less  than  130  men.     With  this  dispropor- 
tionate strength,  major  Lawrence  not  only  sustained  a 
conflict  of  several  hours,  but  eventually  drove  the  ene- 
my's troops  from  their  position  on  the  shore,  destroyed 
his  principal  ship,  the  Hermes,  which  was  abHndoned  by 
her  crew,  and  afterwards  blown  out  of  the  water,  and  re- 
pulsed  his  assailants,  with  a  loss  on  their  side,  in  killed  and 
wounded,  of  232  men.  The  remaining  ships  of  the  squadron 
^•eturned  to  Pensacola,  where  they  were  again  received 
by  the  governor,  ta  repair  their  losses  and  obtain  new 
equipments.     Mortified  in   the  extreme  at  their  unex- 
pected disaster,  aad  fully  determined  upon  avenging  it 


a 


^i 


.*. 


946 


the  British  commainJerB  forthwith  commenced  the  e«- 
Urjcement  of  their  forces,  by  enlisting  new  tribes  of  Indi- 
ans, provided  with  arnas  and  ammunition,  at  tiie  expense 
of  the  Spaniards.  ..     .      ,    ,    . 

The  Creek  Indians,  whose  numerous  hordes  liad  al- 
ready been  repeatedly  defeated,  at  the  Alabama,  the  Hic- 
kory Grounds,  and  elsewhere,  by  levies  of  militia,  un- 
der major  general  Jackson,  (then  of  Tennessee,  but  now 
of  the  United  States'  army;  a  man  of  great  promptness, 
decision  and  intrepidity)  and  who  had  been  reduced  to 
the  necessity  of  negociating  a  treaty  of  peace  wiUi  Uie  go- 
ternment,    were  again  urged  to   raise  the   tom-hawk 
against  the  people  by  whom  they  had  been  conquered. 
Until  some  decisive  and  effoctual  measures  were  adopted 
to  prevent  this  illegal,  and,  to  the  Americans,  dangerous 
intercourse,  the  inroads  of  the  treacherous  savages  would 
become  no  less  frequent  tiian  before,  and  the  facilities  of 
annoying  tiie  acyacent  American  coast  be  greatly  multi- 
plied,   At  the  appearance  of  such  imminent  danger,  ge- 
neral Jackson,  whose  head  quarters  were  Uien  at  Mobile, 
did  not  hesitate  what  plan  to  pursue,  and  without  waiting 
for  the  authority  of  the  government,  he  immediately  col- 
lected a  force  of  nearly  4,000  men,  and  determined  on 
the  occupation  of,  and  the  expulsion  of  the  enemy  from, 
the  town  of  Pensacola.     On  his  arrival  before  that  place, 
he  required  of  the  governor,  an  immediate  consent  to  the 
occupation  of  the  forts  by  the   Americans,   until  they 
should  be  garrisoned  by  a  sufficient  number  of  Spanish 
troops  to  protect  them  against  the  violation  of  their  neu- 
trality   of  which  the  British  forces  were  entirely  regard- 
less    This  proposal  was  unhesitatingly  rejected,  and  af- 
ter a  feeble  resistance  to  his  approaches,  general  Jackson 
carried  the  place  by  storm,  and  forced  a  compliance  with 
his  equitable  demand.     By  the  persuasion  of  the  British 
officers,  however,  the  commandant  of  the  principal  fort 
was  induced  to  destroy  its  armament,  and  blow  up  the 
bastions,  and  having  secured  his  troops    on  board  the 
British  squadron,  to  retn^  with  them  to  the   Havanna. 
The  necessity  which  took  genera!  Jackson  to  Pensacola, 
being  now  therefore  at  an  end,  he  returned  to  the  Ame- 
rican territory,  and  made  preparations  for  the  defence  of 
liew  Orleans.. 


847 

From  this  period,  the  early  part  of  NoTember,  until 
the  middle  of  December,  the  naval  force  upon  the  sta- 
tion was  gradually  increasing  ;  it  amounted  at  length  to 
60  sail,  composed  principally  of  bhips  of  the  line,  heavr 
ingates,  and  transports,  and  comprised  of  the  command 
of  admiral  Warren,  and  the  detachment  from  Bermuda. 
On  board  this  formidable  fleet  was  an  army  of  nearly 
16,000  men,  derailed  from  the  grand  army  of  the  duke  of 
W-illington,  and  placed  under  the  chief  command  of  sir 
Edward  Packenham,  the  e|eve  of  that  distinguished  gene- 
ral. To  this  army  was  attached  a  general  staff,  selected 
from  the  ablest  officers  of  the  army  of  the  continent,  and 
includingdajors  general  Lambert.  Gibbs  and  Kean. 

To  watch  the  approach  of  the  enemy,  and  to  apprize 
the  commander  in  chief  at  New  Orleans  of  the  advance  of 
the  fleet,  commodore  Patterson,  coramandinin^  the  naval 
station  there,  despatched  five  gun-boats,  under  lieute- 
nant Jones,  to  the  pass  Christian.  On  the  Ifith  of  De- 
cember, an  attack  was  made  upon  the  flotilla  by  42 
barges  and  3  gigs,  mounting  43  guns,  and  being  manned 
by  1,200  men,  under  the  orders  of  captain  Lockyer. 
Though  lieutenant  Jones  had  judiciously  anchored  hia 
boats  across  the  Malheureux  Island  channel,  it  was  im» 
possible  to  make  a  successful  resistance  to  so  superior  a 
force,  and  after  a  contest  of  searly  two  hours,  in  which 
the  enemy  suffered  a  severe  loss,  the  flotilla  was  despe-* 
mtely  carried  by  boarding. 

By  the  capture  of  the  gun-boats  the  principal  protectioff 
of  the  coast  was  lost,  and  the  enemy  had  it  in  his  power 
to  move  at  pleasure,  and  select  whatever  point  afforded' 
the  greatest  facility  to  the  landing  of  his  troops.  Accord^ 
ingly,  on  the  23d  of  the  month,  about  nine  miJes  below 
the  city,  he  landed  a  division  of  his  army  under  major 
general  Keane,  who  was  immediately  met  by  parts  of 
two  regiments  of  regular  infantry,  the  city  militia,  a  bri- 
gade of  mounted  men  under  general  Coffee,  and  a  de- 
tachment of  Tennessee  militia,  commanded  by  general 
Carrol—the  movements  of  the  whole  being  directed  by 
major  general  Jackson.  Commodore  Patterson  had  beea 
ordered  to  drop  down  the  river  in  the  United  States' schr. 
Carolina,  captain  Henley,  and  directed  lieutenant  C.  c! 
B.  Thompson  to  follow  with  the  sloop  ef  war  Louisiana. 
The  crew  of  this  yqssel  had  been  two  weeks  before  ba«- 


'Wi 


% 


JIRIK 


948 

4l^  eoUMted  to  the  streets  of  Oileant,  Mid  wae  eom- 
posed  of  swlors  of  acTeral  naUons,  speaking  different  lan- 
guages,  ami  ineapable  of  understanding  the  orders  of 
tkek  commanders,  or  tlie  words  of  each  other.    By  the 
uncommon  exertions  of  lieutenant  Thompson,  however, 
an  oik)ef  whose  gallantry  rendered  him  not  less  conspi- 
cuous, than  his  fortunate  acquaintance  with  the  languages 
•f  the  separate  countries  to  which  the  sailors  belonged, 
they  were  by  this  time  in  a  good  state  of  discipline.  Early 
in  the  evening  this  vessel  opened  her  fire  upon  the  Bri- 
ish    encampment,  and    general  Jackson   immediately 
Mftoved  forward  his  troops  to  the  attack.     A  vigorous  en- 
gagement waa  the  result.    The  heart  of  the  enenay's 
eamp  was  pierced  by  general  Coffee's  howie ;  the  right 
wing  pressed  his  flanks,  and  his  force  was  considerably 
reduced  by  the  fire  from  the  Carolina.     Whilst  fortune 
was  running  full  in  favor  of  the  American  troops,  a  heavy 
fog,  to  which  that  coimtiy  is  subject,  set  in,    and  de- 
stroyed the  hope*  of  the  general,  in  capturing  tiie  invad- 
ing division.    He  therefore  condensed  his  force,  remained 
ppon  the  field  that  night,  and  eariy  in  the  morning  aa- 
tumed  a  position,  of  more  strength,  two  miles  nearer  th« 
«itf .     In  this  action  the  British  force  amonnted  to  nearly 
i,eOO  men,  and  the  Americans  to  little  more  than  2,000. 
"  The  loss  oa  the  side  of  the  former  was  stated  to  be  400 
V»en,  and  on  the  latter  213. 

The  vigour,  impetuosity  and  decision  of  this  attack 
l|K>n  their  first  disembarkation,  alarmed  the  British  com- 
Biftiiders,  and  caused  them,  upon  the  increase  of  theirnum- 
bers,  to  advance  with  more  caution.  They  therefore 
commenced  the' erection  of  batteries,  in  order  to  make 
their  appiMches  gradual,  and  between  that  night  and  the 
udrnillg  of  the  27th,  they  exchanged  several  fires  with 
the  Carolina.  At  seven  o'clock  on  that  day  the  schooner 
took  fire  from  the  hot  bhot  thrown  upon  her  decks,  and 
blew  ap,  about  an  hour  after  her  crew  had  abandoned 
^r.  The  Louisiana,  which  had  then  taken  her  station, 
ftustained  the  fire  of  all  the  British  batteries,  until  her  situ- 
ation became  extremely  dangerous.  To  have  lost  her 
would  have  been  to  lose  the  whole  co-operative  naval  force, 
and  her  commander,  lieutenant  Thompson,  attempted  to 
get  up  the  river,  '-nder  the  favour  of  a  light  breeze.  His 
efforts  were,  however,  constantly  baffled,  until  his  skilful 


349 

inaiMgMiMi  roBt  superior  to  tii*  obstaclM  by  wbidiha 
was  avrroundcd,  and  he  succeeded  in  getting  her  near 
general  Jacluon's  positkm.  After  the  destruction  of  th« 
Carolina,  the  enemy  nMred  upon  this  position,  wUeh 
genera!  Jackson  had  been  incessantly  strengtbenii^  with 
artillery,  awl  some  reinforcing  detaebnients.  Sir  Ed* 
ward  Packenham  had  landed  with  the  reserre  of  bis  army, 
and  superintended  the  present  nAovement  in  person.  At 
Ube  distance  of  half  a  mile  from  the  line  of  defence,  sir 
Edward  commenced  bis  attMk,  on  the  morning  of 
tbe  28Ui,  by  throwing  bombs  and  rockets,  openiag  ft 
heavy  and  continual  cannonade,  graiNially  advanciiM 
upon  the  position,  and  hoping  to  compel  general  Jaek* 
ton  to  retire  to  die  city.  The  Louisiana  diseharged  her 
broadsides  obliquely  upon,  and  caused  great  destruction 
in  the  enemy's  column  ;  the  fire  from  general  Jacksnn's 
batteries  was  directed  with  scarcely  less  eftect ;  and  after 
a  violent  struggle  of  seven  hours  to  dislodge  them,  the 
enemy  was  forcibly  repulsed,  and  withdrew  beyond  the 
reach  of  immediate  annoyance. 

Having  still  further  enlarged  his  forces  by  new  detach* 
ments  of  soldiers,  sailors  and  marines,  and  finding  that 
he  had  not  yet  made  any  impression  upon  the  unfinished 
breastworks,  sir  Edward  Packenham  'ost  no  time  in  the 
construction  of  batteries,  and  tbe  planting  of  heavy  pieces 
of  cannon.  On  the  1st  of  January,  1816,  he  opened 
from  his  whole  line,  a  cannonade  of  more  vigour  if  possi- 
ble than  that  of  the  28th.  It  was  immediately  returned 
by  the  American  line,  the  works  composing  which  were 
now  ncariy  completed.  The  British  general  forwarded 
some  of  his  heaviest  pieces  in  advance  of  his  main  body 
and  attempted,  without  success,  to  flank  the  works! 
With  the  close  of  the  day  the  cannonade  ceased,  and  the 
enemy  fell  back  to  his  encampment. 

Before  the  8th  of  the  month,  general  Jackson  had  eight 
distinct  batteries  constructed,  mounting  twelve  guns  of 
different  caKbre :  his  line  extended  from  the  left  bank  of 
the  Mississippi  upwards  of  a  niile,  and  was  defended  by 
3,300  infantry  and  artillerists.  Eariy  off  tbe  morning  of 
the  8th,  sir  Edward  Packenham  having  been  reinforef^d 
by  his  fusile-jrs,  and  the  4ad  infantry,  which  augmented 
his  strength  to  12,0§0  regulars,  and  2,000  seamen,  ao- 
proached  the  line  in  two  divisions,  under  m^ors  genetS 


■^ 


i 


■'* 


Oiblu!  find  Keane,  the  former  of  whom  was  to  make  the 
iirincipal  attack,  and  a  reserve  composed  of  the  let  bri- 
gade, under  mayor  general  Lambert.     The  columns  of  ge- 
nemls  Oibbsand  Keanewere  supplied  with  scaling  ladders 
and  fascines,  and  were  to  assault  the  lineB  immediately  in 
front,  600  yards  from  which  they  had  thrown  up  a  bat- 
tery of  six  1  B-pounders.     On  the  right  bank  of  the  river, 
colonel  Thornton  was  ordered  to  attack  general  Morgan  s 
battery  with  the  86th  infantry,  200  sailors,  400  mannes, 
Uie  6th  West  India  regiment,  and  four  pieces  of  artdlery. 
At  the  break  of  day  the  signal  for  the  assault  was  given, 
the  British  columns  advanced  with  rapidity,  until  a  dis- 
charge of  cannon  nnd  musn'ietry  from  the  «th,  7tii  and 
8th  batteries  was  opened  upon  them,  and  sweeping  them 
from  right  to  left,  compelled  them  to  recoil  in  confusion. 
The  most  active  efforts  were  immediately  made  by  the 
officers  to  raMy  the  troops,  and  bring  them  up  to  a  second 
attempt  •  in  this  act,  sir  Edward  Packenham  was  killed ; 
and  though  crenerals  Gibbs  and  Keane  succeeded  in  push- 
ing their  divTsions  forward,  the  second  effort  was  no  more 
fortunate  thnn  the  first.    The  attack  was  received  with 
excessive  coolness  by  the  inferior  body  of  Americans, 
and  the  British  columns  broke  in  the  same  confusion  as 
before,  but  retired  with  more   precipitation.     Generals 
Gibbs  and  Keane  were  both  severely  wounded,  the  first 
mortally  ;  and  the  only  general  officer  left  upon  the  field 
was  major  general  Lambert,  who  came  up  with  the  re^ 
serve,  and  vainly  endeavoured  to  check  the  flight  of  the 
attacking  columns.     He  therefore  retired  to  the  original 
position  of  the  British  army,  and  after  a  consultation 
with  admiral  Cochrane,  determined  upon  returning  to  the 
shipping,  with  as  much  order  and  celerity  as  possible. 
—But  before  the  embarkation  could  commence,  the  fate 
of  colonel  Thornton  was  to  be  known,  and  his  division 
collected  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river. 

When  the  attack  upon  the  main  works  was  commen- 
ced, that  officer  assailed,  with  great  impetuosity,  the  twelve 
gun  battery  of  general  Morgan.  The  American  right 
flank  retired  before  him,  and  his  whole  attention  being 
turned  towards  the  left,  a  sharp  and  animated  contest 
followed.—But,  being  deserted  by  more  than  half  their 
line,  and  far  outnumbered  by  their  enemy,  the  troops  ot 


# 


J- 


Uiat  0afNk  ftffiketl  their  g»ii8|.  aiMl  left  the  battery  in  pos- 
WBMon  of  the  asHHiiantSk 

'J'he  succees  vvhicli  attended  tlie  assault  oC  col.  Thorn- 
ton, who  was  Huvereiy  wounded,  did  not  however  afail 
the  Britkh  arms^Their  disaster  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  rir«r,  made  it  necessary  for  this  division  also  to  re- 
tire ;  and  in  obedience  to  the  orders  of  general  Lamhert, 
colonel  Gubbins,  on  whom  the  command  of  Thornton's 
division  had  devolved,  recrosaed  the  river,  and  fell  back 
upon  the  main  body,  and  before  the  18tb  of  January,  the 
vrhote  army  evacuated  the  shore. 

On  the  Allowing  day,  the  9th,  adhiiral  Cochrane  di- 
rected two  bomb  vessels,  on#i  sloop  of  war,  a  brigand  a 
schooner,  to  station  tbemselvea  before  fort  St.  Philip, 
with  a  view  to  its  bombardment  and  destruction.  On  that 
day  they  commenced  an  attack,  and  continued  throwing 
shells  inV  the  fort,  until  the  17th  in  the  evening,  when  the 
(^mmandaut,  major  Overton,  opened  a  heavy  mortar 
(not  until  then  in  readiness,)  and  threw  the  line  of  ships 
Into  such  disorder,  that,  on  the  morning  of  the  18th,  they 
retired  to  the  anchorage  of  the  fleet. 

The  expedition,  which  had  ^  been  thus  extensivrfy 
planned  in  Enj/Iand,  and  for  the  fitting  out  of  which  an  im- 
mense treasure  liad  been  exhausted,  was  thus  resisted,  and 
entirely  destroyed,  by  the  valour  and  perseverance  of  a 
small  army,  principally  made  up  of  volunteers  and  mili- 
tia, and  commanded  by  a  general,  whose  military  career, 
though  brilliant,  and  almost  unparalleled,  was  commen- 
ced but  two  years  before.  The  slaughter  which  attended 
this  repulse  of  the  invading  army,  w^s,  on  their  side  ne- 
ver surpassed  at  any  other  battle.  Besides  theii^  generals 
find  other  officers  of  high  rank,  the  British  lost,  in  killed, 
wounded  and  missing,  about  4,000  men.-  The  Ameri- 
can, killed,  wounded  and  missing,  did  not  exceed  600. 

The  British  fleet,  however,  continued  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, and  on  the  10th  of  February,  general  Lambert 
having  landed  near  fort  Bowyer,  with  a  large  body  of  his 
troops,  demanded  of  lieutenant  colonel  Lawrence  the 
surrender  of  the  garrison.  In  tts  rear  an  extensive  and 
heavy  battery  had  been  planted,  and  the  powerful  force 
by  whicli  it  was  surrounded,  made  it  expedient  that  the 
fort  should  capitulate  on  honourable  terms,  or  that  the 

Hh 


% 


362 

gairison  should  submit  to  the  sword.  Colonel  Lawrence 
chose  that  line  of  conduct  which  propriety  and  humanitjr 
digitated,  and  the  enemy  took  possession  of  the  fort. 

On  the  same  day,  the  British  sloop  of  war  Bnzen  ar- 
riTed  ^ff  the  station,  with  intelligence  that  a  treaty  of 
peace  had  b«ftn  concluded  upon  between  the  Ataerienn 
and  British  ambassadors  at  Ghent,  which  had  met  the 
approbation  of  the  prince  regeni;  of  England.  Not  long 
alter,  generalJackson  was  apprized,  by  the  secretary  of 
war,  of  the  ratification  of  the  treaty  by  the  president  and 
senate,  and  all  hostilities  immediately  ceased.  A  regu- 
lacnand  mutual  exchange  of  prisoners  was  entered  upon, 
and  the  volunteers  and  militia  were  hoiio!Tably  .dis- 
charged, and  sent  to  their  homes,  with  the  gratitude  and 
applause  of  their  aountry. 


■4k' 


iivr«nee 
umuutsr 
►rt. 

'iuzen  ar- 
•eaty  of 
taierioftn 
met  the 
^ot  long 
Btary  of 
lent  and 
A  regu- 
id  upon, 
bly  .dis- 
ude  and 


""^Pi^^. ' 


-%- 


m\ 


4 


(iuniridf  ii- 


*        JAMKS      BIBBLE    W^Q^. 


Hi 


^MBism 


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i 


'Aw 


,i#;;/i;%i\<lj 


mm 


prmif  sf  ■ 


8Q. 


///'^ 


/ 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

1%«  Swy^Loas  qfthe  UniUd  Slates^  Frigate  President 
— The  Constitution  engages  and  captures  the  British 
Frigate  Cyane^  and  Sloop  qf  War  Levant—Capture  of 
the  Sloop  of  War  Penguin,  by  the  Hornet, 

THE  blockade  of  the  frigates  United  States  and 
Macedonian,  and  the  sloop  of  war  Horaet,  at  New 
London,  having  continued,  until  the  only  season  at 
which  they  could  possibly  escape,  had  elapsed,  the  Hor* 
net  was  ordered  to  remain  at  her  station  as  a  guard  ship, 
whilst  the  frigates  were  to  be  moved  up  New  London  ri- 
ver, to  the  head  of  navigation  for  heavy  vessolp,  and 
there  to  be  dismantled.  Commodore  Decatur,  and  the 
crew  of  the  United  States,  were  transferred  to  the  frigate 
President,  then  moored  at  New  York,  In  the  course  of 
the  winter,  a  cruise  to  the  East  Indies  was  determined 
on,  at  the  navy  department,  to  be  performed  by  a  squad- 
ron, consisting  of  that  frigate,  the  sloop  of  war  Peacock, 
then  also  at  New  York,  the  sloop  of  war  Hornet,  and 
the  Tom  Bowline,  a  merchant  vessel,  bou^t  into  the 
service  as  a  store  ship.  The  Hornet  was  therefore  di- 
rected to  proceed  to  the  same  harbour.  On  the  night  of 
the  18th  of  November,  capt.  Biddle  passed  the  blockad- 
ing squadron  without  being  discovered,  and  joined  com- 
modore Decatur,  at  New  York.  That  port  had  been 
also  conatanlly  blockaded,  and  several  frigates,  sloops  of 
war,  and  a  razee,  were  at  that  time  cruising  off  the  Hook. 
On  the  14th  of  January,  commodore  Decatur  thinking  it 
more  likely  to  get  to  sea  with  the  President  singly,  di- 
rected captain  Warrington  to  follow  him  with  the  Pea- 
cock, and  Hornet,  as  soon  as  the  Tom  Bowline  was  in 
readiness,  and  having  assigned  the  island  of  TristuB 
d  Acunha,  as  the  first  place  of  rendezvous,  proceeded  to 
the  bay,  with  a  view  of  escaping  from  Sandy  Hook  ia 


I 


'** 


•I 

4 


^J' 


354 


the  night.  In  consequence  pf  the  negligence  of  the  pi^ 
lot,  the  President  struck  upon  the  bar,  and  remained 
there  thumping,  upwards  of  two  hours.  This  accident 
caused  her  ballast  to  shift,  and,  vvhen  extricated  from  this 
situation  by  the  rise  of  the  tide,  it  was  discovered  that 
she  had  entirely  lost  her  trim.  The  course  of  the  wind 
forbidding  her  return  to  port,  the  commodore  determined, 
nevertheless,  upon  running  out  to  sea,  and  did  not  doubt 
but  ehfi  would  soon  recover  that  ease  in  sailing,  for 
which  she  had  been  long  celebrated.  At  d*y  ligbt  he  fell 
in  with  the  Brifish  squadron,  coniposed  «f  the  M^eetic 
(razee,)  the  frigates  Endymion,  Tene^dos,  and  Pomone, 
and  the  despatch  brig,  which  immediately  gave  chase. 
The  President  was  lightened  as  much  as  possible,  but 
the  superior  sailing  of  the  enemy's  ships,  enabled  them  to 
gain  rapidly  upon  her,  and  the  leading  frigate  the  Endy- 
mion, of  49  guns,  and  mounting  24-pounder8  on  iier  gun 
deck,  got  close  under  her  quarters  and  commenced  fir- 
ing. ■'  Commodore  Decatur,  finding  that  the  Endymion 
was  cutting  up  his  rigging,  without  his  beine  «bte  to 
annoy  lier,  determined  to  bear  up  and  engage, 
and  if  possible  to  run  her  on  board,  &nd  in  the  event 
of  carryiny  her,  to  sail  off  and  abandon  the  President. 
But  the  enemv  manoeuvred  to  avoid  this  plan,  and  the 
conflict  continued  two  hours,  and  ended  in  silencing  and 
beating  off  the  Endymion,  with  her  hull  and  rigging 
much  cut  up,  her  masts  and  spars  badly  injured,  and  a 
great  proportion  of  her  crew  killed  and  wounded.  The 
President  was  also  considerably  damaged,  and  lost  25 
men  killed,  and  60  wounded ;  among  the  former,  lieute- 
nants Babbit  and  Hamilton,  and  acting  lieutenant  Howel; 
among  the  latter,  the  commodore,  and  midshipman  Dale, 
<vho  lost  a  leg,  and  died  of  his  wounds  at  Bermuda.  By 
this  time  the  rest  of  the  squadron  came  within  two  miles 
of  the  President.  The  Endymion  had  hauled  off  to  re- 
pair, and  commodore  Decatur  made  another  effort  to 
e8cap^.--But,  in  three  hours,  the  Pomone  and  Tenedos 
lay  along  side,  and  the  Majestic  and  Endymion  were 
within  a  short  distance  of  him.  The  gallant  commodore, 
not  choosing  to  sacriPce  the  lives  of  his  crew  in  a  useless 
contest,  with  a  squadron  of  ships  mounting  not  less  than 
110  guns,  received  the  fire  of  the  nearest  frigate,  and  sur- 
rendered.   He  was  taken  on  board  the  Endymion,  to 


556 

^vhose  commander  be  refused  to  deliver  his  sword,  when 
required,  alleging,  that  if  they  had  been  singly  engaged, 
that  otRcer  would  inevitably  have  been  captured,  and 
that  he  had  struck  to  the  whole  squadron.  The  enemy, 
however,  asserted  that  the  President  had  been  conquered 
by  the  Endymion  alone  ;  that  her  damage  was  sustained 
io  a  storm  which  rose  up  after  the  battle;  and  having  re- 
paired  both  vessels,  sent  the  prize  from  Bermuda  to 
England,  under  her  convoy.  There  she  was  lightened 
and  laid  in  dock  along  side  an  old  74,  which  was  deeply 
laden,  to  give  her  a  smaller  appearance  in  the  water  than 
the  President. 

The  United  States'  frigate  Constitution,  which  had 
been  some  time  repairing  at  Boston  for  a  cruise,  sailed 
from  that  port,  on  the  17th  of  December,  still  under  the 
command  of  captain  Stewart.  After  cruising  in  various 
parts  of  the  ocean,  and  in  the  track  for  outward  and 
homeward  bound  convoys,  until  the  20th  of  February, 
she  fell  in  with  two  strange  men  of  war  sail,  at  ten  mi- 
nutes past  1,  P.  M.  on  that  day.— -One  of  these  being  to 
windward,  was  bearing  up  for  the  Constitution,  and  at 
2h.  30m.  displayed  signals  and  squared  away  to  the  west< 
ward  to  join  her  consort.  The  Constitution  set  every 
rag  in  chase,  and  a  few  minutes  before  3,  commenced 
firing  from  her  forward  guns  on  the  gun  deck.  At  3b. 
16m.  the  main  royal-mast  of  the  Constitution  was  carried 
away,  and  enabled  the  enemy's  vessels  to  distance  her 
fire.  Before  5,  a  new  royal-mast  was  completed,  and  a 
little  while  after,  the  breeze  freshened,  and  the  ship  to 
leeward  tacked  to  the  southward  under  all  sail.  At  6, 
the  two  ships  hauled  to,  on  the  larboard  tack,  in  line,  and 
in  ten  minutes  the  Constitution  ranged  ahead  of  the 
sternmost,  brought  her  on  the  quarter,  her  consort  on 
the  bow,  at  200  yards  distance,  and  opened  a  broadside, 
which  was  immediately  returned.  An  exchange  of 
broadsides  continued,  until  the  three  ships  were  com- 
pletely enveloped  in  smoke,  upon  the  clearing  away  of 
which,  the  Constitution  found  herself  abreast  of  the  head- 
most ship,  and  captain  Stewart  ordered  both  sides  to  be 
manned,  backed  toppails,  and  dropped  into  his  first  posi- 
tion. The  ships  t'\  ^he  bow  backed  sails  also.  The 
Constitution's  broadsides  were  then  fired  from  the  lar- 
T)oard  battery,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  ships  on  the  bow 

Hh2 


I 


M 


DSS 


perceiving  hrr  error,  in  getting  sternboard,  filled  awBy 
with  an  intention  of  tacking  athwart  the  bows  of  the  Con- 
stitution, and  the  ship  on  the  stern  fell  off,  perfectly  un- 
manageable.   The  Constitution  thou  tilled  awny,  in  full 
pursuit  of  the  former,  came  within  100  ynrds  of  her,  and 
gave  her  several  raking  hroadHides.     8he  made  al!  sail 
before  the  wind,  with  a  view  to  escape,  and  captain 
Stei/art  knowing  her  crippled  situation  would  enable  him 
to  overhaul  her,  at  any  time  after  securing  her  conaort, 
wore  round,  and  ranged  along  side  the  latter  ship,  from 
which  a  gun  was  fired  to  leeward,  to  signify  that  ehe  had 
surrendered.     Possession  was  then  taken,  by  lieutenant 
Hoft'uian,  of  his  Britannic  niajosty's  frigate  Cyano,  rap- 
tain  Gordon  Falkon,  of  $\  guns,  32-pouud  carroimdes. 
Fler  conuiiander  and  officers  being  brought  on  board, 
captain  Stewart  sailed  in  chase  of  the  other  vessel,  and 
in  a  short  time  discovered  her,  standing  for  him  on  the 
weather  bow.   In  a  few  minutes  the  enemy  fired  a  broad- 
side,  ^hich  being  instantly  returne»l,   he   tacked  ship, 
made  all  sail,  and  at  that  moment  received  a  rake  from 
the  starboard  broadside  of  the  Constitution.     Upon  gain- 
ing his  wake,  captain  SteWvirt  opened  a  fire  from  his 
gun  deck  chase  guns,  with  such  effect,  that  the  enemy 
hove  too  and  surrendered,  with  five  feet  water  in  his 
hold,  his  masts  tottering,  and  nothing  but  the  smooth- 
ness of  the  sea  preventing  them  fcom  going  overboard. 
Lieutenant  Ballard  was  sent  on  board,  and  took  posses- 
sion of  his  Britannic  majesty's  ship  Levant,  capt.  Doug- 
lass, of  18  32-pound  carronades,  and  2  large  12-pound- 
ers.    The  loss  on  board  the  Cy  ane  and  Levant  amounted 
to  40  men  killed,  and  nearly  double  that  number  wound- 
ed ;  on  biard  the  Constitution,  where  no  other  spar  was 
lost  than  the  fore  top  gallant  yard,  4  men  were  killed  and 
11  wounded.     On  tlie   10th  of  March,  captain  Stewart 
entered  the  harbour  of  Port  Praya,  with  his  prizes,  and 
on  the  11th,  a  British  squadron,  consisting  of  the  Leaii- 
der,   sir  George  Collier;   the  Newcastle,    lord  George 
Stewart,  neither  of  tliem  carrying  less  than  60  guns  ; 
and  the  frigate  Acasta,  captain  Kerr,  of  44  guns,  which 
had  sailed  from  the  eastern  coast  of  the  United  States,  in 
quest   of  the   Constitution,  appeared  off  its  entrance. 
Captain  Stewart  immediately  mafle  sail,  escaped  from 
the  harbour  with  his  squadron,  and  was  closely  pursued 


367 

hv  the  onemy's  three  ships.  After  a  long'^nml  perilons 
chase,  <he  ConstituHon  and  Cyane  escafKul  their  pursu- 
ers, and  firrivec!  «afely  hi  the  United  Stales  ;  birt  (he  fiC- 
vant,  after  whom  hII  sail  wnn  made  by  the  enemy 'g  Hhing 
ran  into  Port  Praya,  with  a  heavy  firo  of  broadwdes  from' 
the  Leander  and  NewcaBtle,  to  put  herself  under  the  pro- 
(oetion  of  the  neutral  port.  The  neutrality  ol  tbc  Fortu- 
Siieae  was  not  regarded  by  the  British  squadron,  how- 
over,  and  they  recaptured  the  Levant  and  carried  her  In- 
to Barhadoes. 

A  few  days  after  the  departure  of  the  President  from 
New  York,  the  Peacock,  Hornet,   and  Tom  Bowline, 
lett  that  harbor,  without  knowing  of  her  capture.     On  the 
third  after  sailing  from  Sandy  Hook,  (the  2ii(\  of  Janu- 
ary,) the  Horrnt  parted  company  with  the  Peatock  and 
Tom   Bowline,    and  directed   her  course  towards  the 
island  of  Tristan  d'Acunha,  the  first  <leHign»ted  rendez- 
vous for  the  ficpiadron.     On  the  23d  of  March,  she  des- 
cried the  British  brig  Penguin,  captain  Dickenson,  of  18 
guns,  and  a  12-pound  carronade,  to  the  southward  and 
eastward  of  the  island.     This  vessel  ha«l  been  fitted  out, 
and  twelve  supernumerary  marines  put  on  board,  with 
whom,  her  crew  amounted  to  I. 32  men,  to  cruise  for  the 
American  privateer  Young  Wasp.     Captain  Biddlo  im- 
mediately  made  sail,  cleared  tlvi  island,  and  hove  to 
until  the  Penguin,  at  the  same  lime  coming  down,  should 
be  within  striking  distance.     At  40  minutes  past  1,  P.  M. 
the  Penguin  hauled  her  wind   on  the   starboard  tack 
hoisted  English  colours,  and  tired  a  gun  at  musket  shot 
thstance.    Tho   Hornet  immediately  luflTed  to,  sent  up 
an  ensign,  and  gave  the  enemy  a  broadside.     A  constant 
fire  was  kept  up  for  fifteen  minutep,  the  Penguin  all  that 
time  gradually  nearing  upon  the  Hornet,  when  captain 
Dickenson  gave  orders  to  run  her  on  board,  and  was 
killed  by  a  grape-shot  before  he  saw  them  executed. 
Lieutenant  M' Donald,  upon  whom  the  command  of  the 
Penguin  then  devolved,  bore  her  up,  and  running,  her 
bowsprit  in  between  the  main  and  mizen  riggino-  of  the 
Hornet,  ordered  his  crew  to  board.     His  men,  however 
seeing  the  Hornet's  boarders  not  only  ready  to  repel 
them,  but  waiting  for  orders  to  jump  upon  the  Penguin's 
deck,  refused  to  follow  him.     At  that  moment  the  heavy 
swell  of  the  sea  lifted  the  Hornet  ahead,  and  the  enemy*& 


U': 


&yi 


m 


'iiii 


3W 

howsDrit  carried  away  her  miBen  shroiidB  and  spai^er 
SooranS  S^e  Pengiiin  hung  «P<>°the  hornet's  ^^^^^^ 
deck,  with  the  loss  of  her  foremast  and  ^wspnt.    Her 
clmander  then  called  out  that  he  had  Burrendered. 
ThXh  he  was  not  distinctly  understood,  captain  Biddle 
ordered  his  marines  to  cease  firing,  and  deman*led  of 
Ihe  Penguin  whether  she  had  struck.    An  officer  of  the 
Hornet  discovered  a  man  taking  aim  at  caP^»  B»ff^ 
ffter  the  surrender,  and  called  to  him  to  avoid  he  fire.-^ 
He  had  scarcely  done  so,  when  a  ™»f  «*  ^*"j^*J"^^^^^ 
captain  in  the  neck,  severely  ^0"?^«^.^>^;„^^Z*^'aS 
through  his  coat  collar.    Two  marines,  ^  ^^^m  the  mwa 
was  pointed  out,  who  had  discharged  his  piec^ea^^^^^ 
commander,  immediately  fired  at  and  killed  him  before 
he  brought  t  from  his  shoulder.    The  Pengum  just  then, 
aot  clear  of  the  Hornet,  and  the  latter  wore  round  to  give 
Z  enemy  a  fresh  broadside,  when  her  commander  caUed 
outi  a  second  time  that  he  had  surrendered.    The  sever 

J  exercise  of  authority  became  ««f^fj;y»  ^^^rfit 
the  Hornet's  crew,  who  were  incensed  at  the  enemy  snr 
lUg  Tfter  he  had  struck,  from  discharging  the  broadside. 
Twenty-two  minutes  after  the  commencement  of  the  ac 
UoTBhe  was  taken  possession  of  by  Mr.  Mjyo    f  tiie 
Hoiiiet.    The  Penguin  was  so  much  injured,  that  cap- 
"rB  ddle  determined  upon  taking  out  her  crew  and 
scuttUng  her-^fter  doing  which,  he  sent  his  prisoners  to 
St  Sdorin  the  Tom  Bowline,  by  which  vessel  and 
The  Peacock  he  was  joined  on  the  25th  of  he  month.    In 
thfs  action,  the  Penguin  lost   14  men    killed,  and   28 
wounded ;  the  Hornet,  1  killed,  and  11  wounded:  among 
the  latter,  her  first  lieutenant,  Conner,  dangerously. 

Having  bent  a  new  suit  of  sails,  and  repaired  his  ng- 
ginTcaptain  Biddle  was  in  a  perfect  condition  to  prose, 
cute  the^rulse,  and,  together  with  ^he  Peacock,  after 
wating  the  full  time  for  commodore  Decatur  at  he  island 
of  Triftan  d'Acunha,  sailed  on  the  12th  of  Aprd  for  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope.    On  the  27th,  Jhey  discovered  a 
British  ship  of  the  line,  with  an  admiral  s  flag.    Th^  ^ea 
cock  and  Hornet  immediately  separated,  and  made  a 
sail  in  different  directions  from  the  stranger,  who  came  up 
in  pursuit  of  the  latter.    The  chase  commemed  at  about 
2  o^clock,  of  the  27th,  and  continued  until  10  in  the  morn- 
ing of  the  30A,  during  which  time  the  enemy  s  bow  gun. 


359 


id  spuiker 
>t's  quarter 
iprit.    Her 
irrendered. 
tain  Biddle 
manded  of 
Beer  of  the 
ain  Biddle, 
i  the  fire.— 
1  struck  the 
and  passed 
Dm  the  man 
ece  at  their 
him  before 
lin  just  then« 
ound  to  give 
ander  called 
The  sever- 
,  to  prevent 
enemy's  fir- 
e  broadside, 
at  of  the  ac- 
layo,  of  the 
;d,  that  cap- 
;r  crew  and 
prisoners  to 
h  vessel  and 
5  month.    In 
led,  and   28 
ided:  among 
jrously. 
aired  his  rig- 
tion  to  prose- 
eacock,  after 
',  at  the  island 
April  for  the 
discovered  a 
,g.    The  Pea- 
and  made  all 
who  came  up 
(need  at  about 
Ointhemorn- 
iy*6  bow  gun^ 


were  continually  fired— his  vessel  frcq uen I ly  gained  upon, 
ana  was  as  often  dropped  by  the  Hornet;  and  cajitaiu 
iJHldle,  after  throwing  overboard  every  heavy  article  at 
hand,  and  all  his  guns  but^one,  at  length  effected  his  es- 
cape, and  went  to  St.  Salvador  for  the  purpose  of  refit- 
ting. On  his  arrival  tliere,  he  gained  intelligence  of 
the  conclusion  of  hostilities  between  the  two  nations,  and 
soon  after  sailing  thence,  returned  to  the  United  States 
about  the  latter  end  of  July,  and  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  post  captain. 

The  capture  of  the  Cyane,  the  Levant,  and  the  Pen- 
gum,  took  place  before  the  expiration  of  the  time  limited 
by  the  2d  article  of  the«treaty  of  peace,  to  constitute  their 
legality,  and  the  only  one  of  them  which  got  into  port, 
the  Cyane,  was  taken  into  the  service  of  the  United 
States. 

Thus  terminated  a  war  of  two  years  and  eight  months, 
m  which  the  naval  arms  of  the  United  States,  were  fif- 
teen,  and  those  of  Great  Britain  four  times,  triumphant}  - 
and  during  which  the  former  lost  three  frigates,  seven 
sloops,  and  live  smaller  vessels,  of  war;  whilst  the  lat- 
u!  I  ^'  ^^®  frigates,  nineteen  sloops  of  war,  one  of 
which  was  blown  up  by  a  land  battery,  several  gun-b-igs 
and  schooners,  two  brigs  cut  out  from  under  the  guns  of 
a  fort,  and  upwards  of  fifteen  hundred  merchantmen, 
captured  by  private  armed  vessels.     The  operations  of 
the  American  armies,  were,  at  the  commencement  of 
the  war,  not  quite  so  successful :— Defeat,  disgrace  and 
disaster,  in  many  instances,  followed  their  movements ; 
but,  the  struggle  was  eventually  closed  by  a  succession 
ot  achievements,  which  reflected  the  highest  degree  of 
lustre  upon  the  American  name,  and  ranked  the  United 
btates  among  the  first  and  most  independent  nations 
of  the  earth. 


FINIS. 


Dir 


!i!-' 


Fori 
Cap 
Con 

Saci 
Fori 
Coli 
Con 
Gen 
Gen 
Bali 
Cap 


Directions  to  the  Binder  Jor  placing  tfu)  FlalUf  in  Sketches 

qf  the  War, 


Fort  Eriej  to  face  Title  page.  » 

Captain  Hull,  opposite  page  27,  and  facing  Chap.  U. 
Commodore  Decatur,  opposite  page  83,  and  facing  Chap- 

Sackett*s  Harbour,  opposite  page  134. 

Fort  Stephenson,  Bi  Sandusky^  opposite  page  165. 

Colonel  Croghan,  opposite  page  I6d. 

Commodore  Perrj^,  opposite  page  162. 

General  Brown,  opposite  page  273. 

General  Scott,  opposite  page  277. 

Battle  of  Niagara,  opposite  page  291 . 

Captain  Biddle,  opposite  page  363,  and  facing  Chapter 


